Robert E. Gillis papers, 1975-2010

Overview of the Collection

Title
Robert E. Gillis papers
Dates
1975-2010 (inclusive)
Quantity
10 boxes, (5 linear feet)
Collection Number
UUS_ORA 006
Summary
This collection contains patent documents related to Robert (Bob) E. Gillis and his inventions, including the Oval Intention, the Grip Clip™ tarp and Grip Clip™ tent fasteners.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Robert (Bob) E. Gillis is the owner of Shelter Systems and is known for his innovative designs in the tent industry. In the 1970s, Bob contributed to the development of the Oval Intention, the first geodesic backpacking tent using tensegrity design principles, an innovation that transformed the tent industry. Bob is also the inventor of the Grip Clip™ tarp and Grip Clip™ tent fasteners, which are two rings that hold the tent fabric together to prevent any condensation or rain from seeping in. He came up with this design after realizing the holes from the sewn tent's fabric panels were letting water into the tent. Bob invented other distinctive techniques for the tent industry and has been granted 18 U.S. patents for his designs. Bob also started his own business, Shelter Systems in 1978 which sell his tent products, including Greenhouse tents. In 1994, Bob Gillis partnered with Mitchell W. McCoy and created McGillis Products. This partnership functioned to conduct general business for Bob's fasteners and other associated products.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains materials related to Robert (Bob) E. Gillis and his work, including materials related to the Oval Intention, the Grip Clip™ tarp, and Grip Clip™ tent fasteners. It includes the original patent documents associated with Bob's inventions and copies of patents by other inventors for tent-related products. Related to the patents are records he created for the patent application to The United States Patent and Trademark Office. Located under "Patent Application Records," these documents mostly contain copies of Bob's patents and patents from inventions with similar designs, as well as copies of Bob's tent designs and other tent-related gear advertised in catalogs and magazines. These documents, originally held in a bound binder, were kept together in one folder or, if necessary due to size, separated into two folders. "Supporting Documentation for Patent Applications" are also related to the patents, but do not appear to have been submitted with the patent application. These folders include correspondence from Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP, billing information, papers and correspondence from The United States Patent and Trademark Office, drafts of patent applications, copies of patents, copies of sketches, and other records relating to patent applications. The collection also consists of original sketches and notes of Bob's inventions, including ten journals which document his design process. Other materials include Shelter Systems catalogs, records, and magazine clippings as well as records of McGillis Products. Finally, the collection houses license agreements from The North Face and Sierra Designs, who partnered with Bob to sell his tent products.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Robert E. Gillis papers must be obtained from the Outdoor Recreation Archive Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Robert E. Gillis papers USU_ORA 006, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_ORA 006, USUSCA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The Robert E. Gillis papers are arranged by subjects in relation to his patents. All the patent documents and Bob's personal journals are arranged chronologically. Other records are arranged alphabetically by invention name or business.

Processing Note

Processed in December of 2020

Acquisition Information

This collection was donated to USU Special Collections and Archives by Judith Rocchio in 2020 and 2021.

Related Materials

Outdoor Recreation Catalogs (ORA 001)

Outdoor Recreation Serials (ORA 002)

Michael Hodgson and Therese Iknoian outdoor industry collection (USU_COLL MSS 548)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Robert E. Gillis Patents, 1975-2006Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
Shelter structure, patent #3863659
1975 February 04
1 1
Bubble Machine, patent #3971157
1976 July 27
1 1
External flexed structure, patent #3986579
1976 October 19
1 1
Concave convex structure, patent #4099533
1978 August 11
1 1
Clip for gripping fabric, patent #4175305
1979 November 27
1 2
Collapsible Chair, patent #4225180
1980 September 30
1 2
Tent (oval intention), patent #4265259
1981 May 05
1 2
Flexible vault structure, patent #4265260
1981 May 05
1 2
Clip for gripping fabric, patent #4308647
1982 January 05
1 2
Monkeymaze play structure, patent #4340217
1982 July 20
1 3
Torus Smoking Pipe, patent #4398547
1983 August 16
1 3
Flexible vault structure, patent #4414993
1983 November 15
1 3
Orbit tent, patent #4706696
1987 November 17
1 3
Foldable polyhedral structure, patent #4809726
1989 March 07
1 3
Foldable tent, patent #4944322
1990 July 31
1 3
Viewing Toy, patent #5395277
1995 March 7
1 4
Flexible structure and method, patent #6145527
2000 November 14
1 4
Clip for pole or cable, patent #6279208 B1
2001 August 28
1 4
Flexible structure and method, patent #6415806 B1
2002 July 09
1 4
Pole connector for flexible structure, patent #6523558 B1
2003 February 25
1 4
Segmented articulated pole structure, patent #6615552 B2
2003 September 09
1 5
Removable fastener, patent #6718600 B1
2004 April 13
1 5
Lightweight flexible frame, patent #6843261 B2
2005 January 18
1 5
Emergency shelter structure, patent #7004183 B2
2006 February 28

Tent-related Patents by Other Inventors, 1895-2002Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 6
Cook, Lewis M., Snap Hook, patent #546,226
1895 September 10
1 6
Steele, G. H., Snap Hook, patent #737790
1903 September 01
1 6
Tappan, Jairos M., Whiffletree Hook, patent #948354
1910 February 08
1 6
Jaureguy, Edward, Folding Canopy, patent #126078
1918 April 23
1 6
Pilkinton, George J., Tent Structure, patent #1520719
1924 December 30
1 7
Kramer, Robert, Collapsible or Portable Umbrella, patent #2777454
1957 January 15
1 7
Reynolds, J. E., Arched Shelter Structure, patent #3051185
1959 September 10
1 7
Lewis Sr., Edgar R., Fishing Kite, patent #3314630
1967 April 18
1 7
Neumark, Otto Walter, Improvements in or relating to Collapsible Shelters, patent # 1,103,575 (London)
1968 February 14
1 7
Schwartz, Arthur, Tent-Supporting Constructions, patent #3425428
1969 February 04
1 7
Laberge, Norman, Collapsible Garage, patent #3749107
1973 July 31
1 7
Leibel, Norman P., Collapsible Tent, patent #3834410
1974 September 10
1 7
Spray, William N., Shelter Having a Stressed Frame, patent #389094
1975 July 01
1 7
Frei, Otto, Tent with roof, side walls, patent #2521913 (Germany)
1976 November 25
1 8
Fidler Jr., Raymond E., Enclosure and Frame Therefor, patent #4494558
1985 January 22
1 8
Osborn, Paul V., Lightweight Tarpaulin, patent #4580372
1986 April 08
1 8
Zheng, Yu, Collapsible Shade Structure, patent #5301705
1994 April 12
1 8
Solbeck, Peter, Fastening and Locking Device, patent #5388311
1995 February 14
1 8
Moss, William C., T-Pole Support for Fabric Structure, patent #5477876
1995 December 26
1 8
Mallookis, Steven E., Adjustable Tension Shelter Assembly, patent #5490532
1996 February 13
1 8
Lynch, James. P, Configurable Shade Structure, patent #5918614
1999 July 06
1 8
Jager, Bill, Portable Shelter, patent #5927311
1999 July 27
1 8
Gerig, Thomas, Braceable, Unsupported Arch Arrangement, patent #5950649
1999 September 14
1 9
Burford, Neil Keith, Supporting Truss, patent #6082385
2000 July 04
1 9
Kanne, Mark Melvin, Protective Shield Tent, patent #6140576
2000 October 31
1 9
Perret, Andre, Protective Roof for Bicycles, patent #6227557 B1
2001 May 08
1 9
Gayton, Charles F., Portable Structure, patent #6302127 B1
2001 October 16
1 9
Carter, Mark C., Collapsible Shelter, patent #6431193 B2
2002 August 13
1 9
Lin, Tseng Hsiang, Reinforced Support Member and Method, patent #6459187 B1
2002 September 17

Patent Application Records, 1997-2006Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
2 1
Clip for Pole or Cable
2000 February 01
2 2
Emergency Shelter Structure draft
2001 April 27
2 3
Emergency Shelter Structure
2001-2006
2 4
Emergency Shelter Structure Records (1)
2001 July 31
2 5
Emergency Shelter Structure Records (2)
2001 July 31
2 6
Flexible Structure and Method
1997-2000
2 7
Flexible Structure and Method Records (1)
2000 October 06
2 8
Flexible Structure and Method Records (2)
2000 October 06
3 1
Lightweight Flexible Frame for Shelter Structure Records
2001 July 31
3 2
Lightweight Flexible Structure with Improved Volume
2002-2005
3 3
Pole Connector for Flexible Structure Records (1)
2000 June 29
3 4
Pole Connector for Flexible Structure Records (2)
2000 June 29
3 5
Segmented Articulated Pole Structure
2003
3 6
Segmented Articulated Pole Structure Records (1)
2000 December 01
3 7
Segmented Articulated Pole Structure Records (2)
2000 December 01
4 1
Gillis' Patents and Publications Records (1)
2000 February 01
4 2
Gillis' Patents and Publications Records (2)
2000 February 01

License and Settlement Agreements, 1975-1994Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
4 3
McGillis Products Partnership Agreement (4 copies)
1994
4 4
The North Face License Agreement
1975 June 02
4 4
The North Face Agreement
1976 November 24
4 4
The North Face Covenant not to Sue and Settlement Agreement
1979 May 12
4 4
The North Face Covenant not to Sue and Settlement Agreement
1994 April 04
4 5
Robert Swanson License Agreement
1984 August 10
4 6
Sierra Designs Exclusive License Agreement
1979 August 08
4 6
Sierra Designs Exclusive License Agreement (original and copy)
1981 November 01
4 6
Sierra Designs Exclusive License Agreement Termination letter
1982 July 19

Supporting Documentation for Patent Applications, 1976-2010Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
4 7
Amendment for Flexible Vault Structure
1979 June 22
5 1
Clip for Pole or Cable records
2000-2001
5 2
Emergency Shelter Structure records
2003-2010
5 3
Emergency Shelter Structure records
2001-2003
5 4
Flexible Structure and Method records
1998-2005
6 1
Flexible Structure and Method records
1997-2004
6 2
Flexible Structure and Method records
2000-2002
6 3
Flexible Structure and Method records
2000-2005
6 4
Flexible Structure and Method records
1998-2000
6 5
Lightweight Flexible Frame for Shelter Structure records
2003-2006
6 6
Lightweight Flexible Frame for Shelter Structure records
2001-2002
6 7
Lightweight Flexible Frame for Shelter Structure records
2003
7 1
Lightweight Flexible Frame for Shelter Structure records
2001-2003
7 2
Pole Fabric Connector for Flexible Structure records
2000-2003
7 3
Segmented Articulated Pole Structure records
2000-2006
7 4
Segmented Articulated Pole Structure records
2000-2003
7 5
Web Tent records
1997
7 6
Business correspondence
1976-2010

Shelter Systems Company and McGillis Products records, 1978-1997Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
7 7
Shelter Systems records
1980-1994
7 8
Loose catalog pages and articles about Shelter Systems
1978-1997
8 1
McGillis Products records (1)
1994-1996
8 2
McGillis Products records (2)
1994-1996
8 3
McGillis Products records (3)
1994-1996

Personal journals, notes, and drawings, 1975-1997Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
8 4
Personal invention notes and sketches
1975-1996
9 1
Personal Journal 1
1979 August to 1979 October
9 1
Personal Journal 2
1981 October to 1982 May
9 2
Personal Journal 3
1983 June to 1984 October
9 2
Personal Journal 4
1984 January to 1984 April
9 3
Personal Journal 5
1984 November to 1985 December
9 4
Personal Journal 6
1986 January to 1987 August
10 1
Personal Journal 7
1989 November to 1994 February
10 2
Personal Journal 8
1993 June to 1994 December
10 3
Personal Journal 9
1995 January to 1995 September
10 4
Personal Journal 10
1996 January to 1997 April

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top