Collapsible ice shelter and sled

Claim 2

A collapsible ice shelter comprising, in combination: first and second pairs of opposed wall panels hingedly connected to each other, said first pair of wall panels having first and second panel portions hingedly connected to each other and to said second pair of wall panels, said first and second panel portions of said first pair of opposed wall panels being foldable between an erected position wherein each of said first and second panel portions lie in the same plane forming said first pair of opposed wall panels, said first and second pairs of opposed wall panels forming a rectangular enclosure, and a collapsed position wherein said first and second panel portions of said first pair of opposed wall panels are folded relative each other into parallel flush planes intermediate said second pair of opposed wall panels in accordion fashion; a roof and floor panel hingedly connected to one of said second pair of opposed wall panels and foldable relative said one panel between an erected position wherein said roof panel covers the top of said shelter and said floor panel covers at least a portion of the bottom of said shelter when said shelter is upright and said first pair of wall panels are in said erected position, and a collapsed position wherein said roof and floor panels are in a parallel flush plane with said one panel; one of said wall panels having means defining an access opening into and out of said shelter when erected and a door means hingedly connected to said one panel along one edge of said access opening to close said access opening, the floor of said shanty having means defining a fishing opening therein when erected; and a pair of runners fixed to the outer side of the other of said second pair of opposed wall panels, said other of said second pair of opposed wall panels and runners forming a sled for transporting said shelter when said panels are in collapsed position.

Claim 3

The ice shelter according to claim 1 wherein hinge means are provided for hingedly connecting said panels together, said hinge means comprising a living hinge of fabric-like material extending the entire length of each joint, said material being wind resistant so that said shelter when erected is completely enclosed and windproof.

Claim 4

The ice shelter according to claim 2 wherein said door means is a panel hingedly connected to said one panel by said hinge means, said door means when closed lying flush in the plane of said one panel.

Claim 5

The ice shelter according to claim 1 wherein said roof panel includes a depending center portion which fits snugly within the wall panels in the erected position indexing the wall panels into a rectangular configuration to inhibit unintentional folding movement of said panels toward said collapsed position.

Claim 6

The ice shelter according to claim 1 wherein said floor panel extends between said first pair of opposed wall panels and from one panel of said second pair of opposed wall panels but not to the other of said panels, the remaining distance between said floor panel and said other panel defining said fishing opening when said shanty is erected.

Claim 7

The ice shelter according to claim 1 wherein said floor panel fits snugly between said first pair of opposed wall panels in the erected position indexing the wall panels into a rectangular configuration and acting as a stop to inhibit unintentional folding movement of said panels toward said collapsed position.

Claim 8

The ice shelter according to claim 1 wherein the combined length of said roof and floor panels is approximately equal to the height of said wall panels.

Claim 9

The ice shelter according to claim 1 wherein the adjoining edges of each wall panel along each corner are beveled forming a glove relationship with each other when the shanty is erected.

Claim 10

The ice shelter according to claim 1 wherein said roof, floor, wall panels and door means are comprised of plastic, said panels and door means being completely interconnected and positioned in said erected position without requiring mechanical fasteners.

Claim 11

The ice shelter according to claim 1 wherein said first pair of opposed wall panels comprise the sidewalls of said shelter, said second pair of opposed wall panels comprising the front and rear panels, said one of said second pair of opposed wall panels comprising said front panel and the other of said second pair of opposed wall panels comprising said rear panel.

Claim 12

A collapsible shelter comprising, in combination: first and second pairs of opposed plastic wall panels hingedly connected to each other by hinge means, said first pair of wall panels having first and second panel portions hingedly connected to each other and said second pair of wall panels by said hinge means, said first and second panel portions of said first pair of opposed wall panels being foldable between an erected position wherein said first and second panel portions lie in the same plane forming said first pair of opposed wall panels, said first and second pairs of opposed wall panels forming a rectangular enclosure, and a collapsed position wherein said first and second panel portions of said first pair of opposed wall panels are folded relative each other in parallel flush planes intermediate said second pair of opposed wall panels in accordion fashion; a plastic roof and floor panel hingedly connected to one of said second pair of opposed wall panels by said hinge means, and foldable relative said one panel between an erected position wherein said roof panel covers the top of said shelter and said floor panel covers at least a portion of the bottom of said shelter when said shelter is upright and said first pair of wall panels are in said erected position, and a collapsed position wherein said roof and floor panels are in parallel flush plane with said one panel, one of said wall panels having means defining an access opening into and out of said shelter and a plastic door means hingedly connected to said one panel by said hinge means along one edge of said access opening to close said access opening, the floor of said shanty having means defining a fisHing opening therein; and a pair of runners fixed to the outer side of the other of said second pair of opposed wall panels, said other of said second pair of opposed wall panels forming a sled for transporting said shelter when said panels are in a collapsed prone position, said hinge means comprising a living hinge of fabric-like material extending the entire length of each joint, said material being wind resistant so that said shelter is completely enclosed and wind proof when erected and upright.

Claim 13

A collapsible shelter comprising, in combination: first and second pairs of opposed plastic wall panels hingedly connected to each other by hinge means, said first pair of wall panels having first and second panel portions hingedly connected to each other and said second pair of wall panels by said hinge means, said first and second panel portions of said first pair of opposed wall panels being foldable between an erected position wherein said first and second panel portions lie in the same plane forming said first pair of opposed wall panels, said first and second pairs of opposed wall panels forming a rectangular enclosure, and a collapsed position wherein said first and second panel portions of said first pair of opposed wall panels are folded relative each other in parallel flush planes intermediate said second pair of opposed wall panels in accordion fashion; a plastic roof and floor panel hingedly connected to one of said second pair of opposed wall panels by said hinge means, and foldable relative said one panel between an erected position wherein said roof panel covers the top of said shelter and said floor panel covers at least a portion of the bottom of said shelter when said shelter is upright and said first pair of wall panels are in said erected position, and a collapsed position wherein said roof and floor panels are in parallel flush plane with said one panel, one of said wall panels having means defining an access opening into and out of said shelter and a plastic door means hingedly connected to said one panel by said hinge means along one edge of said access opening to close said access opening, the floor of said shanty having means defining a fisHing opening therein; and a pair of runners fixed to the outer side of the other of said second pair of opposed wall panels, said other of said second pair of opposed wall panels forming a sled for transporting said shelter when said panels are in a collapsed prone position, said hinge means comprising a living hinge of fabric-like material extending the entire length of each joint, said material being wind resistant so that said shelter is completely enclosed and wind proof when erected and upright.

Claim 14

The shelter according to claim 11 wherein said roof panel includes a portion which fits snugly within the confines of said wall panels when said shelter is erected, said portion indexing said wall panels into said rectangular position and acting as a stop to inhibit unintentional folding movement of said wall panels toward said collapsed position.