PORTABLE SHELTER

A shelter includes a set of arms extending radially from a central hub and having legs extending downward from the arms. The legs may be unfolded outward for set-up and folded inward for storage. Each arm comprises four sections, each section joined at one end to either the central hub or a leg, and joined at another end to a hinge arrangement at the center of the arm. Two arm sections of each arm include beams which, when the arm is extended, extend in a substantially straight line or link from the hub to a leg. The other two sections of each arm each include two substantially parallel beams horizontally separated to provided lateral stability. Since the arms use beams lying in more than one plane, strength and lateral. stability are increased. Since the legs are not linked to each other, the arms may be extended from the hub individually, and only one person is required for set-up. The shelter has extra strength, since the arms are connected to fixed pivots on the legs and central hub, with preferably no leg being mounted on a movable collar. The structure gains increased strength and stability, as when each arm is extended one portion of the arm is a substantially straight portion with only one joint, rather than a zigzag having multiple joints. Ease of set-up may be furthered by a mechanism slightly spreading the arms when the collapsed shelter is first unpacked, allowing the shelter to stand upright.