Background of the Invention Portable shelters against wind, rain and sun exist in various forms.

Umbrellas, which represent a considerably successful type of shelter, have been known for some time. Umbrellas offer a collapsible form allowing relatively convenient storage and transport, but are not universally satisfactory.

For example, umbrellas provide limited sun blockage if the relative orientation of the sun and the umbrella is unfavourable, such as if the sun is low in the sky during the early morning or late afternoon. Furthermore, as the sun"shifts" during the day, the shaded area provided by the umbrella correspondingly moves.

Even when direct sunlight is blocked, reflected sunlight from sand, water etc may not be blocked. These shortcomings are increasingly perceived as disadvantageous, due to the increasing awareness of the potentially harmful effects of exposure of the skin to sunlight.

Umbrellas suffer other disadvantages when blocking wind, rain. Winds usually pass directly under the umbrella, and may carry rain, thus making the umbrella ineffective as a shelter. In particular, existing shelters are not suitable for use in windy conditions. Various attempts have been made to improve the effectiveness of umbrellas in view of these problems, but without universal success.

Australian patent no 240975 (Kathleen Jane Stockwell) describes a shelter in which an umbrella has a continuous wall extending around most of the umbrella, thereby forming a substantially enclosed shelter. This arrangement has the particular disadvantage that, as the wall forms an enclosed volume, gusts of

wind fill the enclosed volume and are likely to damage the umbrella and/or walls, or remove from the umbrella from its attachment with the ground.

It is an object of the invention to at least in part alleviate one or more of these problems associated with existing shelters.

Summary of the Invention The invention provides a shelter including a canopy, a support for supporting the canopy, and multiple discrete side wall portions, wherein the side wall portions are attached to and extend from the canopy, and one or more of each adjacent pair of the side wall portions has one or more connection means, each located at a discrete point, for connecting the adjacent pair of side wall portions at each discrete point.

Preferably the adjacent side wall portions are connected with each other at least at their bases. Preferably, a single fastener further connects each pair of adjacent side wall portions in a region located near the facing edges of the respective adjacent side wall portions. Preferably the fastener is positioned approximately centrally located between the ends of the side wall portions. As such, there are preferably three fastening points: at the top and base of each side wall portion, and at a region centrally located between the top and base.

In other embodiments, multiple fasteners may be provided, in which case it is also preferred that each fastener be approximately equally spaced from its neighbouring points of constraint.

Preferably, the canopy and canopy support are provided by an umbrella.

Preferably, the multiple side wall portions are matched with the multiple segments, so that each side wall portion is attached to the umbrella portion along a peripheral edge of one of the segments. More preferably, the side wall portions are shaped such that they overlap when hanging from the canopy. This may be achieved by the side wall portions having convex side edges.

Preferably, the shelter can be arranged so that the multiple side wall portions do not form an enclosed shelter. Preferably, some adjacent segments do not have attached side wall portions so that the shelter has an open entrance.

Alternatively, all segments may be provided with attached side wall portions which can be parted, removed or otherwise configured so that the shelter can be conveniently entered and exited in use.

Preferably, the fastener joining adjacent side wall portions is made of an elastic material. Preferably, ends of the fastener are stitched with adjacent side wall portions. In other embodiments, a detachable fastener is used, such as provided by co-operating strips of a Velcro° fastener material, a press stud or a button and corresponding hole.

Preferably, the fastener attaching the adjacent side wall portions is attached to an inner wall of one side wall portion and the outer wall of the other side wall portion.

Preferably, each of the multiple side wall portions extend to the ground, in which a central support of the umbrella portion is preferably also secured.

Preferably, each of the multiple side wall portions is weighted along its base. Preferably, bags are formed along the outer side of each of the multiple side wall portions so that the bags can be conveniently filled with, for example, sand or water, which can be easily removed when required.

Preferably, the canopy and side wall portions are of a durable weatherproof material.

Preferably, the side wall portions are formed from separate and distinct pieces of material which are joined or adapted to be joined by connection means.

Alternatively, the side wall portions can be formed from a single piece of side wall material which is, for example, cut, to introduce slits which define adjacent side wall portions.

The invention also includes a shelter including a canopy, a support for the canopy, and at least one side wall extending from the canopy and forming at least a partly enclosed area under the canopy, the side wall having multiple slits which are located and sized to permit wind to escape through the slits while the side wall substantially blocks external light. Preferably, there are three or more slits, each of which is generally vertically oriented.

The invention further inclues a kit of components suitable for assembling a shelter as described above. The invention still further inclues a number of side wall portions, either connected or able to be connected with each other, and arranged to be connected with an existing beach umbrella to form a shelter as described above.

Description of Drawings In the drawings, corresponding numerals are used to refer to corresponding features.

Fig. 1 illustrates a shelter constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the shelter illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates a portion of two adjacent side wall portions of the shelter illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 illustrates a portion of an umbrella portion of the shelter shown in Fig.

1.

Description of Embodiments Fig. 1 shows a shelter 10 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The shelter has an umbrella portion 12 and a number of separate side wall portions 14. The umbrella portion 12 provides a canopy to which the side

wall portions 14 are attached.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, adjacent side wall portions 14 are joined along respective facing edges 40 at their respective bases 44, and in a region generally centrally located along the respective facing edges 40, as later described. The side wall portions 14 are joined along their upper edge with the corresponding segment 20 of the umbrella portion 12, along an edge 36 of the segment 20.

In the illustrated embodiment, there are eight segments 20 in the umbrella portion 12, seven of which are attached with side wall portions 14 along peripheral edges 36 of segments 20. The number One segment 20 does not have a corresponding side wall portion 14 attached to it, thus providing a convenient entrance to the shelter 10.

The segments 20 are joined along their peripheral edges 36 with the side wall portions 14 as mentioned earlier. A side wall portion 14 is provided for all but one of the segments 20 of the umbrella portion 12, so that a generally enclosed shelter having an entrance is thereby formed. Each side wall portion 14 has an upper edge 42, a base edge 44, and sides 40.

When the shelter is in use, it is convenient to weight the side wall portions.

To this end, a number of bags 46 are formed on the external side of the material of the side wall portions 14. As illustrated, there are three bags 46 on each side wall portion 14. The bags 46 are located on each side wall portion 14 in a lower region of the side wall portion 14, along the base edge 44 of the side wall portion 14.

The bags 46 are conveniently formed by stitching a piece of material onto the lower region of each side wall portions 14, and stitching this material together with the side wall portion 14 along the base edge 44 of the side wall portion 14, and along part of the side edges 40 of the side wall portions 14. To split this pouch into a number of bags 46, two stitch lines 48 are formed between the side walls 40. Of course, the upper edge of the bags 46 are left open. Thus the bags are stitched along their bottom 44 and side 40 edges, and can accordingly be filled

with a material to weigh the side wall portions 14. The bags 46 can be filled with, for example, sand or water, to weight the side wall portion 14 along its base 44. This provides the shelter 10 with favourable characteristics during use, as later discussed. The side wall portions 14 can also be provided with eyelets so that the side wall portions 14 can be pegged into the ground.

The length of the each of the side wall portions 14 is chosen so that the side wall portions are slightly longer than necessary to fully extend to the ground when the umbrella portion 12 is secured in the ground and in its expanded configuration. This allows the bags 46, when filled, to rest on the ground without "hanging"from the canopy. It also allows the weighted bags 46 to be desirably positioned at a small transverse distance away from the umbrella portion 12 so that the side wall portions 14 slope slightly downwardly and outwardly, and there is a greater amount of floor space within the shelter 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, adjacent side wall portions 14 are connected with each other near respective lower edges of the side wall portions 14. The adjacent side wall portions 14 are stitched together along a lower portion of their respective facing edges 40 adjacent the bags 46. In this way, the side wall portions 14 form a connected, segmented (and in this case octagonal) arc at their respective bases, and these side wall portions 14 can be weighted at their respective bases to lend some structure to the shelter 10.

The side wall portions 14 are also joined by a thin elastic strip 50 bridging the facing edges 40 of respective adjacent side portions 14. This strip 50 is located generally centrally along the respective facing edges 40 of the adjacent side wall portions 14. The elastic strip 50 is attached to the respective side wall portions 14 by stitching the respective ends of the elastic strip 50 to the adjacent side wall portions 14.

In the drawings, the elastic strip 50 is shown on the outside of the shelter 10, and gap between adjacent side wall portions 14 is exaggerated. The elastic strip 50 can equally well be provided on the inner surface of the shelter 10, and this configuration is generally preferred for cosmetic reasons, as the elastic strip

50 remains hidden from the outside of the shelter 10. This arrangement also potentially avoids exposing the elastic strips 50 to seawater which may cause prematurely wear of the strip material.

It is preferred that the elastic strip 50 is stitched onto the respective adjoining side wall portions 14 along the facing edges 40 of the respective side wall portions 14, as well as at the ends of the elastic strip 50. When wind passes through the shelter 10, the gap between the adjacent side wall portions 14 at the location of the strip 50 is constrained relatively tightly by the action of the elastic strip 50. This avoids gusts of wind from"tugging"at the connection between the strip 50 and the side wall portion 14, potentially weakening the connection, or ripping the side wall material.

Instead of attaching the elastic strip 50 on either the inside or outside of the shelter 10, it is possible to attach one end of the elastic strip 50 to an inner side of a side wall portion 14, and the other end of the elastic strip 50 to an outer side of the adjacent side wall portion 14.

It is preferable that the strip 50 is formed of an elastic material so that the shelter 10 avoids damage during use. If adjacent side wall portions 14 were not elastically affixed but instead, for example, stitched together at their mid points, the attached side wall portions 14 might be ripped apart in heavy winds.

The adjacent side wall portions 14 overlap to a certain extent (for example, by a small proportion of the width of each side wall portion 14, such as by a few centimetres) to assist in preventing sunlight entering the shelter 10. Arranging adjacent side wall portions 14 to overlap also assists in allowing wind to blow through the shelter without causing excessive flapping of the side wall portions 14.

Fig. 4 shows part of the umbrella portion 12 of the shelter. The umbrella portion 12 shares structural similarities with a conventional umbrella, and a variety of conventional umbrella designs can be suitably used. The umbrella portion 12 is structured around a central support 30 having an upper end 32 and lower end 34.

Part of the umbrella portion 12 provides a canopy in the form of the segments 20.

Adjacent segments 20 are attached along their common edges 22, along which they are supported by spoke arms 24 which pivotally extend from the upper end 32 of the central support 30. As a result, the segments 20 also extend to the upper end 32 of the central support 30.

As shown in Fig. 4, the spoke arms 24 pivot in relation to the upper end 32 of the central support 30 to configure the umbrella portion 12 between an expanded form and a collapsed form. This is assisted by support arms 26, each of which is hingedly attached to, at both its ends, the spoke arm 24 and a slideable member 28 respectively. The slideable member 28 encircles the central support 30 along which it slides between two extreme positions.

In a first extreme position closer to the upper end 32 of the central support 30, the slideable member 28 is positively held to maintain the umbrella portion 12 in its expanded configuration, using a conventional locking mechanism. When the slideable member 28 is released from the first position, it slides toward a second extreme position lower down the central support 30, during which the umbrella portion 12 collapses as the sliding member 28 pulls the spoke arms 24 towards the central support 30 by action of the support arms 26 on the spoke arms 24.

That is, as the slideable member 28 is moved to the second extreme position, the support arms 26, which are pivotally attached with the slideable member 28, are pulled towards the second extreme position with the slideable member 28. The spoke arms 24 which are, in turn, pivotally attached with the spoke arms 24, pivot the spoke arms 24 in towards the central support 30. When the slideable member 28 is at the second extreme position nearer the lower end 34 of the central support 30, the umbrella portion 12 is in its collapsed form, suitable for storage or transport. This mechanism for conveniently allowing the umbrella portion to be moved between a collapsed form and an expanded form can be replaced by other suitable alternative mechanisms known in umbrellas generally.

In use, the shelter 10 is erected by expanding the umbrella portion 12 to its expanded form, and securing the central support 30, for example, by driving the lower end 34 of the central support 30 into the sand or ground. Alternatively, a support stand can instead be used to support the central support 30, for example,

if the shelter 10 is to be erected over a hard surface. The bags on the side wall portions 14 are filled with sand or water and positioned at a laterally outwardly from the periphery of the umbrella portion 12. This provides an adequately sized shelter 10 in which the side portions 14 are neither too taut nor too slack.

The use of multiple separate but connected side wall portions 14 allows wind to pass through the shelter 10 without becoming trapped within the shelter 10 and possibly damaging the shelter 10, or removing the shelter 10 from the ground.

However, the central support 30 should be adequately secured to the ground to prevent a strong gust of wind catching the shelter 10. In surfaces such as sand, the shelter 10 can be adequately secured by the use of a device such as the Sandlok anchorage device (as described in Australian Patent 632687). This anchorage device uses downwardly converging plates to trap sand between the plates to securely anchor the device in the sand in the presence of upward forces acting on the device.

When wind enters the shelter 10, it can pass though the gaps between the adjacent side wall portions 14. The side wall portions 14 are"held"taut by the wind as it passes through the shelter 10. As a result, the side wall portions 14 tend to be relatively positioned so that respective facing edges 40 of adjacent side wall portions 14 are relatively displaced or offset from each other in a direction generally transverse to the side wall portions 14. This allows wind entering the shelter 10 to pass through these gaps formed by the relative offset of adjacent side wall portions 14, but discourages sunlight from substantially entering the shelter 10.

The adjacent side wall portions 14 tend to become relatively positioned during use so that any sunlight that does pass through gaps between the side wall portions 14 does not impinge on the central region of the shelter. Adjacent side wall portions 14 become relatively positioned under even light breezes so that winds pass through the gaps between adjacent side wall portions 14, but there is little opportunity for sunlight to enter the shelter 10 in use. While there are gaps between adjacent side wall portions 14, these gaps tend to ensure that sunlight can only enter the shelter 10 from angles which are generally aligned with the side

wall portions 14. As a result, sunlight that does enter the shelter 10 in this way tends to only illuminate the inner side of the side wall portions 14 and closely located regions of the shelter. Sunlight does not pass into the main part of the shelter where people tend to collect.

The material with which the shelter 10 is constructed is a lightweight sun- blocking fabric, preferably being manufactured or treated to absorb UV radiation to an SPF 50 rating. The seams are reinforced respectively where the side wall portions 14 join the umbrella portions 12, and where the elastic fastener 50 joins adjacent side wall portions 14. this particularly suits the shelter 10 for use in strong wind conditions.

Other embodiments of the invention are possible in which multiple side wall portions 14 can be attached to an existing umbrella canopy, thus forming a shelter. It is not necessary that the side wall portions 14 be stitched with the segments 20 of the umbrella portion: various other forms of attachment can be used, for example, zips, studs, or Velcro tapes.

In the described embodiments, the adjacent side wall portions 14 are described as being attached with stitching at their respective bases, and attached by an elastic strip 50 at their middles. Of course, various other arrangements for connecting the separate side wall portions in one or more separated regions are possible.

It is not necessary to connect the side wall portions 14 their respective bases at all, if the base of the weighted bags 46 are used to provide sufficiently locate the side wall portions 14. Of course, weighted bags 46 need not be used as various other weighting means are possible. Weighting means need not be used at all. In such embodiments it is desirable to otherwise anchor the side wall portions in the ground, for example, by pegging.

Similarly, permanently attached elastic strips 50 can be replace with alternative fastening means suitable for attaching adjacent side wall portions 14.

For example, separate cords can be stitched onto side wall portions 14 at

matching positions near facing side edges 40. In use, these cords can be tied together to connect adjacent pairs of side wall portion 14. More conveniently, complementary strips of looped and burred material can be used instead of cords.

These strips, of a Velco material, offer the advantage that adjacent pairs of side wall portions can be joined and detached at will. This flexibility allows the form of the shelter to modified by, for example, changing the position of the entrance, or the number of side wall portions 14 in use at any one time.

In such an embodiment in which adjacent side wall portions 14 are connected by detachable connection means, each segment 20 could have a corresponding side wall portion 14, and the entrance could be formed as necessary by detaching one side wall portion 14 from its immediate neighbours, holding a side wall portion 14 aside, or rolling a side wall portion 14 up towards the umbrella portion and tying it to thus form an entrance. In this respect, loops and/or cords could be provided on the shelter to hold the retracted side wall portion 14 in position. More than one side wall portion could be adjusted so that the width of the entrance could be adjusted as desired.

Further, the position of the entrance to the shelter could be simply adjusted without the need to re-orient the entire shelter. This would be convenient as the sun shifts, or the direction of the wind changes, or the change the view from inside the shelter. Of course, it is not at all necessary to change the orientation of the shelter to adjust for the shifting sun, but in some cases it may be preferable to adjust the shelter in response to changes in wind direction.

Most preferably, the shelter 10 has an entrance formed by having one segment 20 not having a corresponding side wall portion. Preferably the two side wall portions 14 adjacent the entrance are not connected at all to their respective adjacent side wall portions 14 (or are connectable using detachable connection means). Instead, these side wall portions 14 can be rolled up to provide a wider entrance, or detached altogether.

The canopy need not necessarily be provided by an umbrella-other arrangements known or apparent to a skilled person are possible. Preferably such

arrangements are collapsible to allow for convenient storage and transport of the shelter.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.