The present invention relates to a mountable and dismountable multipurpose shelter, including a frame assembly which consists of at least three supporting rods secured relative to each other at the top thereof, said rods being braced at the bottom ends thereof at a distance from each other upon an erection base for building an upward tapering conical frame structure, said frame structure being intended for mounting a protective cover thereon.

An object of the invention is to providea multipurpose shelter which is readily and expediently mountable or erectable and likewise dismountable, whenever necessary.

According to the invention, this object is achieved such and a multipurpose shelter of the invention is characterized in that the supporting rods are linked at the top securely and preferably pivotably to each other by means of a supporting plate, said supporting plate being adapted to serve as a top element for the shelter cage assembly, under which the top edge of the protective cover to be mounted on the supporting rods is adapted to be protectively fitted, that the supporting rods are further linked at an intermediate point between the ends thereof to each other by means of a band or a like, preferably in such a manner that the band or the like produces a closed circle for limiting a maximum relative distance between the supporting rods, and that the opposite supporting rods are connected by diagonal rods which at one end thereof are linked pivotably to the supporting rod and at the other end thereof pivotably to a common connecting piece.

Thus, the frame structure for a multipurpose shelter of the invention provides an integral assembly which can be set in a folded shipping/storage condition, wherein the supporting rods linked at one end thereof are substantially parallel,

and in an erected service condition, wherein the supporting rods are pulled at the bottom end thereof as far apart as possible until reaching a suitable limiter to stop. By virtue of this, the supporting rods are easy to extend at the erection stage to a suitable distance from each other. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the supporting rods are linked to each other at an intermediate point between the ends thereof by means of substantially horizontal intermediate rods connecting any given two adjacent supporting rods, the rigid horizontal rods are thus easy to fix in position.

In yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the arrangement is such that the supporting rods have pivotably connected thereto a vertical rod, preferably a variable- length vertical rod extending downward from said pivoting point. If necessary, these vertical rods can be used for reinforcing the structure or for providing more floors.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows schematically a frame assembly for a multipurpose shelter of the invention in its basic configuration and erected condition.

Fig. 2 shows a top end mounting for the supporting rods of a multipurpose shelter.

Fig. 3 is a section along a line III-III in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows schematically a connecting point between an intermediate floor and a supporting rod.

Fig. 5 is a section along a line V-V in fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows exemplary applications for a multipurpose shelter of the invention.

Fig. 7 shows examples for extending a multipurpose shelter of the invention.

A frame assembly for a mountable and dismountable multipurpose shelter of the invention is illustrated in fig. 1. The frame assembly consists of four supporting rods 1 secured relative to each at the top thereof. The rods 1 are braced at the bottom ends thereof at a distance from each other upon an erection base for building an upward tapering conical frame structure, said frame structure being intended for mounting a protective cover (not shown in fig. 1) thereon.

The supporting rods 1 are linked at the top thereof securely and preferably pivotably to a supporting plate 4. It should be noted that the supporting rod 1 can be secured immovably to the supporting plate 4, e.g. to a bushing (not shown) welded to the supporting plate. What is important is that, at the mounting or dismounting stage of a multipurpose shelter, the supporting rods 1 are pivotable relative to the supporting plate 4. The supporting rods 1 are further linked to each other at a point 3 spaced a certain distance from the top of the supporting rod for limiting a maximum relative distance between the supporting rods 1. Such a limiter preferably comprises a band 10, which preferably produces a closed circle. The supporting rods 1 are preferably designed to have an adjustable length, e.g. by means of a lockable auxiliary rod (not shown) fitted inside the bottom end of each rod 1.

The multipurpose shelter has its top end provided with a horizontal supporting plate 4. At the same time, the supporting plate 4 serves as a top element for a shelter cage assembly, under which the top edge of a protective

cover 2 to be mounted on the supporting rods 1 is adapted to be protectively fitted. The supporting plate 4 is preferably provided with a downward extending skirt 20, which is dimensioned to extend below the top edge of the protective cover 2 and thus to prevent the access of water inside the shelter and at the same time to secure the top end of said protective cover 2, especially the preotective cover made of a rigid board, in position between the inner surface of skirt 20 and the outer surface of supporting rods 1.

By increasing the size of a supporting plate 4 it is readily possible to increase the inside space of a shelter.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in figs. 2 and 3, a link or hinge element between the supporting rod 1 and the supporting plate 4 comprises a cross-sectionally U-shaped element 7, which is rotatable around a vertical axis 6 and mounted at the bottom thereof on the supporting plate 4 and which includes legs 9, having therebetween an axis 5 that the supporting rod is adapted to be rotatable about. This is to make sure that, at the erection stage of a multipurpose shelter, the supporting rod 1 is capable of freely rotating relative to the supporting plate 4 since otherwise, due to the great length of the supporting rod 1 , said supporting rod could be easily ripped off the supporting plate 4.

If a multipurpose shelter of the invention is used e.g. as a conventional garden roofing, as shown in fig. 6c, and the frame assembly or rather, as in this case, the top section of the frame assembly being covered by fitting a light protective cover 2 thereon, the solution shown in fig. 1 will be sufficient as a frame structure. On the other hand, if the shelter is to be provided with an intermediate floor, as shown in figs. 6a and 6b, the supporting rods 1 are preferably connected to each other at a point between the ends thereof by means of substantially horizontal

intermediate rods 11 connecting any given two adjacent supporting rods 1.

An intermediate floor can be fitted upon said intermediate rods 11 but, in view of stabilizing the assembly, it is preferable to use a structure as shown in figs. 4 and 5. There, the opposite supporting rods 1 are connected by diagonal rods 12, which at one end thereof are linked pivotably to the supporting rod 1 and at the other end thereof pivotably to a common connecting piece 13. The connecting piece 13 may comprise a sleeve or bushing, as shown in figs. 4 and 5, or a rigid plate, having the diagonal rods articulated to its bottom surface.

Through the sleeve 13 can be fitted a duct (not shown), serving as a supporting column and/or a smoke flue, for clamping the sleeve 13 thereon at a desired height. The supporting column is preferably provided with a shoulder for limiting a downward movement of the sleeve 13. The supporting column can serve as a bearing structure for one or a plurality of floors. The supporting column has preferably a variable length. When the duct is used as a smoke flue, the supporting plate 4 is provided with a suitable opening (not shown) for extending the smoke flue therethrough.

In view of pivotably linking the diagonal rod 12 to the supporting rod 1 , said supporting rod 1 is provided with an inwardly extending bracket 15, to which the diagonal rod 12 is articulated to be pivotable from the position shown in fig. 4 to a position substantially parallel to the supporting rod 1. When using a sleeve 13 as shown in figs. 4 and 5, a connection between the sleeve 13 and the diagonal rod 12 is preferably designed to be disconnectable. As best shown in fig. 5, the intermediate rods 11 are clamped in position by means of a connecting bracket 16 mounted on the diagonal rod 12 and a clamping screw 17

mounted on the intermediate rod 11 , the connecting bracket 16 being provided with an appropriate slot 18 for the clamping screw 17.

In addition, the above-mentioned bracket 15 can be pivotably provided with a vertical rod 14. In the service position of a shelter, the vertical rod 14 extends from a pivoting point 19 downwards. The vertical rod 14, same as the supporting rod 1, can be adjustable in its length. The vertical rod 14 can be used for reinforcing the structure or for providing extra floors, as shown in figs. 7b and 7c. The vertical rods 14 can be fitted witha floor as well as walls by conventional technigues. In addition, the floor or floors can be propped on the above-mentioned supporting rod.

A multipurpose shelter of the invention can be used for various leisure activities on land and water but also as a temporary dwelling with a number of floors that can be increased, if necessary (fig. 7).

A multipurpose shelter of the invention can be covered by conventional methods with the most diverse types of covers.