U.S. patent application number 09/965741 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-29 for containerized habitable structures.
Invention is credited to Ciotti, Theodore T..
Application Number | 20020116878 09/965741 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26929533 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020116878 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ciotti, Theodore T. |
August 29, 2002 |
Containerized habitable structures
Abstract
A engineered purpose-built portable habitable structure formed
of a transformable rectangular enclosure which is the size of an
ISO shipping container and which includes a base shell having
hingedly attached exterior and interior walls that fold out to form
a habitable structure with the walls of the structure being
prewired and preplumbed and adapted to connect to appropriate
supply sources exterior to the structure.
Inventors: |
Ciotti, Theodore T.;
(Sarasota, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Gifford, Krass, Groh, Sprinkle,
Anderson and Citkowski, P.C.
Suite 400
280 N. Old Woodward Avenue
Birmingham
MI
48009-5394
US
|
Family ID: |
26929533 |
Appl. No.: |
09/965741 |
Filed: |
September 28, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60236188 |
Sep 29, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/64 ; 52/69;
52/71; 52/79.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 1/3442
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/64 ; 52/79.5;
52/69; 52/71 |
International
Class: |
E04B 001/346 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A portable habitable structure formed of a engineered,
purpose-built transformable rectangular enclosure, said enclosure
being dimensioned a standard size of containers used for sending
freight by plane or ship, said enclosures comprising: a top wall
portion; and a transformable rectangular container portion integral
with said top wall portion, said transformable rectangular
container portion comprising: a first container wall, a second
container wall, and a base, said container walls having first and
second elongated edges, said first elongated edge of said first
container wall being hingedly attached to a first elongated edge of
said top wall portion such that the first container wall can be
placed in a perpendicular or horizontal position relative to the
top wall portion, said second elongated edge of said second
container wall being hingedly attached to a second elongated edge
of said top wall portion such that the second container wall can be
placed in a perpendicular or horizontal position relative to the
top wall portion, and the base of said container having a first and
a second elongated edges; a first and a second end portions, said
first and second end portions having top and bottom edges, said top
edges of the end portions being fixedly and perpendicularly
attached to opposite ends of the top wall portion, said bottom
edges of said end portions being fixedly and perpendicularly
attached to opposite ends of the base; a first and a second base
expander portions, said first and second base expander portions
having first and second elongated edges, said first base expander
portion being hingedly attached to said first elongated edge of
said base at its first elongated edge such that said first base
expander portion can be placed in a horizontal or a vertical
position relative to said base, said second base expander portion
being hingedly attached to said second elongated edge of said base
at its second elongated edge such that said second base expander
portion can be placed in a horizontal or a vertical position
relative to said base; a first roof and a second roof, both being
hingedly attached to container top edge which can be placed in a
perpendicular or horizontal position relative to the base; a first
exterior wall and a second exterior wall, at least one of said
exterior walls having at least one window and at least one door,
said first exterior wall being hingedly attached to said first
elongated edge of the first base expander portion such that the
first exterior wall can be placed in a perpendicular or horizontal
position relative to the base when the first base expander portion
is horizontal to the base, said second exterior wall being hingedly
attached to said second elongated edge of the second base expander
portion such that the second exterior wall can be placed in a
perpendicular or horizontal position relative to the base when the
second base expander portion is horizontal to the base, said first
and second exterior walls being adapted to detachedly fasten to
said second elongated edges of said first and second container
walls respectively; a plurality of exterior sidewalls hingedly
attached to said first and second end portions such that said
exterior sidewalls can pivotally fill gaps between the first and
second exterior walls and the first and second end portions; and a
plurality of interior walls hingedly attached to the first and
second end portions and a frame of the containerized enclosure such
that said interior walls can be positioned as desired to
compartmentalize the interior of the habitable structure, at least
one interior wall having at least one door.
2. The habitable structure of claim 1 wherein the first and second
container walls are multi-piece container walls.
3. The habitable structure of claim 1 wherein the base and the base
expanders function as a floor for the containerized structure.
4. The habitable structure of claim 1 wherein the top wall portion
and the container walls function as a roof for the containerized
structure.
5. The habitable structure of claim 1 wherein the exterior walls
are manually positioned and detachedly fastened in place.
6. The habitable structure of claim 1 wherein the exterior walls
are hingedly attached and fastened in place.
7. The habitable structure of claim 1 wherein the expanded-roof is
hingedly attached and fastened in place.
8. The habitable structure of claim 1 wherein the interior walls
are manually positioned and detachedly fastened in place.
9. The habitable structure of claim 1 wherein the walls are
pre-wired and pre-plumbed.
10. A portable multi-level habitable structure formed of a
plurality of engineered purpose-built transformable rectangular
containerized enclosures comprising, said enclosures being
dimensioned a standard size of containers used for sending freight
by plane or ship, said enclosures comprising: at least two
containerized enclosures selectively transformed into a habitable
structure and arranged in a stacked configuration, each
containerized enclosure comprising: a top wall portion; and a
transformable rectangular container portion integral with said top
wall portion, said transformable rectangular container portion
comprising: a first container wall, a second container wall, and a
base, said container walls having first and second elongated edges,
said first elongated edge of said first container wall being
hingedly attached to a first elongated edge of said top wall
portion such that the first container wall can be placed in a
perpendicular or horizontal position relative to the top wall
portion, said second elongated edge of said second container wall
being hingedly attached to a second elongated edge of said top wall
portion such that the second container wall can be placed in a
perpendicular or horizontal position relative to the top wall
portion, and the base of said container having a first and a second
elongated edges; a first and a second end portions, said first and
second end portions having top and bottom edges, said top edges of
the end portions being fixedly and perpendicularly attached to
opposite ends of the top wall portion, said bottom edges of said
end portions being fixedly and perpendicularly attached to opposite
ends of the base; a first and a second base expander portions, said
first and second base expander portions having first and second
elongated edges, said first base expander portion being hingedly
attached to said first elongated edge of said base at its first
elongated edge such that said first base expander portion can be
placed in a horizontal or a vertical position relative to said
base, said second base expander portion being hingedly attached to
said second elongated edge of said base at its second elongated
edge such that said second base expander portion can be placed in a
horizontal or a vertical position relative to said base; a first
roof and a second roof, both being hingedly attached to container
top edge which can be placed in a perpendicular or horizontal
position relative to the base; a first exterior wall and a second
exterior wall, at least one of said exterior walls having at least
one window and at least one door, said first exterior wall being
hingedly attached to said first elongated edge of the first base
expander portion such that the first exterior wall can be placed in
a perpendicular or horizontal position relative to the base when
the first base expander portion is horizontal to the base, said
second exterior wall being hingedly attached to said second
elongated edge of the second base expander portion such that the
second exterior wall can be placed in a perpendicular or horizontal
position relative to the base when the second base expander portion
is horizontal to the base, said first and second exterior walls
being adapted to detachedly fasten to said second elongated edges
of said first and second container walls respectively; a plurality
of exterior sidewalls hingedly attached to said first and second
end portions such that said exterior sidewalls can pivotally fill
gaps between the first and second exterior walls and the first and
second end portions; and a plurality of interior walls hingedly
attached to the first and second end portions and a frame of the
containerized enclosure such that said interior walls can be
positioned as desired to compartmentalize the interior of the
habitable structure, at least one interior wall having at least one
door.
11. A portable habitable structure formed of a plurality of
engineered purpose-built transformable rectangular containerized
enclosures, said enclosures being dimensioned a standard size of
containers used for sending freight by plane or ship, said
enclosures comprising: at least two containerized enclosures
selectively transformed into a habitable structure and arranged in
a side-by-side configuration, each containerized enclosure
comprising: a top wall portion; and a transformable rectangular
container portion integral with said top wall portion, said
transformable rectangular container portion comprising: a first
container wall, a second container wall, and a base, said container
walls having first and second elongated edges, said first elongated
edge of said first container wall being hingedly attached to a
first elongated edge of said top wall portion such that the first
container wall can be placed in a perpendicular or horizontal
position relative to the top wall portion, said second elongated
edge of said second container wall being hingedly attached to a
second elongated edge of said top wall portion such that the second
container wall can be placed in a perpendicular or horizontal
position relative to the top wall portion, and the base of said
container having a first and a second elongated edges; a first and
a second end portions, said first and second end portions having
top and bottom edges, said top edges of the end portions being
fixedly and perpendicularly attached to opposite ends of the top
wall portion, said bottom edges of said end portions being fixedly
and perpendicularly attached to opposite ends of the base; a first
and a second base expander portions, said first and second base
expander portions having first and second elongated edges, said
first base expander portion being hingedly attached to said first
elongated edge of said base at its first elongated edge such that
said first base expander portion can be placed in a horizontal or a
vertical position relative to said base, said second base expander
portion being hingedly attached to said second elongated edge of
said base at its second elongated edge such that said second base
expander portion can be placed in a horizontal or a vertical
position relative to said base; a first roof and a second roof,
both being hingedly attached to container top edge which can be
placed in a perpendicular or horizontal position relative to the
base; a first exterior wall and a second exterior wall, at least
one of said exterior walls having at least one window and at least
one door, said first exterior wall being hingedly attached to said
first elongated edge of the first base expander portion such that
the first exterior wall can be placed in a perpendicular or
horizontal position relative to the base when the first base
expander portion is horizontal to the base, said second exterior
wall being hingedly attached to said second elongated edge of the
second base expander portion such that the second exterior wall can
be placed in a perpendicular or horizontal position relative to the
base when the second base expander portion is horizontal to the
base, said first and second exterior walls being adapted to
detachedly fasten to said second elongated edges of said first and
second container walls respectively; a plurality of exterior
sidewalls hingedly attached to said first and second end portions
such that said exterior sidewalls can pivotally fill gaps between
the first and second exterior walls and the first and second end
portions; and a plurality of interior walls hingedly attached to
the first and second end portions and a frame of the containerized
enclosure such that said interior walls can be positioned as
desired to compartmentalize the interior of the habitable
structure, at least one interior wall having at least one door.
12. A method of constructing a portable habitable structure formed
of an engineered, purpose-built transformable rectangular
enclosure, said enclosure being dimensioned a standard size of
containers used for sending freight by plane or ship, said
enclosures comprising: a top wall portion; and a transformable
rectangular container portion integral with said top wall portion,
said transformable rectangular container portion comprising: a
first container wall, a second container wall, and a base, said
container walls having first and second elongated edges, said first
elongated edge of said first container wall being hingedly attached
to a first elongated edge of said top wall portion such that the
first container wall can be placed in a perpendicular or horizontal
position relative to the top wall portion, said second elongated
edge of said second container wall being hingedly attached to a
second elongated edge of said top wall portion such that the second
container wall can be placed in a perpendicular or horizontal
position relative to the top wall portion, and the base of said
container having a first and a second elongated edges; a first and
a second end portions, said first and second end portions having
top and bottom edges, said top edges of the end portions being
fixedly and perpendicularly attached to opposite ends of the top
wall portion, said bottom edges of said end portions being fixedly
and perpendicularly attached to opposite ends of the base; a first
and a second base expander portions, said first and second base
expander portions having first and second elongated edges, said
first base expander portion being hingedly attached to said first
elongated edge of said base at its first elongated edge such that
said first base expander portion can be placed in a horizontal or a
vertical position relative to said base, said second base expander
portion being hingedly attached to said second elongated edge of
said base at its second elongated edge such that said second base
expander portion can be placed in a horizontal or a vertical
position relative to said base; a first roof and a second roof,
both being hingedly attached to container top edge which can be
placed in a perpendicular or horizontal position relative to the
base a first exterior wall and a second exterior wall, at least one
of said exterior walls having at least one window and at least one
door, said second exterior wall being hingedly attached to said
second elongated edge of the first base expander portion such that
the first exterior wall can be placed in a perpendicular or
horizontal position relative to the base when the first base
expander portion is horizontal to the base, said second exterior
wall being hingedly attached to said second elongated edge of the
second base expander portion such that the second exterior wall can
be placed in a perpendicular or horizontal position relative to the
base when the second base expander portion is horizontal to the
base, said first and second exterior walls being adapted to
detachedly fasten to said second elongated edges of said first and
second container walls respectively; a plurality of exterior
sidewalls hingedly attached to said first and second end portions
such that said exterior sidewalls can pivotally fill gaps between
the first and second exterior walls and the first and second end
portions; and a plurality of interior walls hingedly attached to
the first and second end portions and a frame of the containerized
enclosure such that said interior walls can be positioned as
desired to compartmentalize the interior of the habitable
structure, at least one interior wall having at least one door,
said method of constructing comprising the steps of: folding up the
hingedly attached container walls to a horizontal position relative
to the top wall portion; fastening the container walls into the
horizontal position; folding out the hingedly attached base
expanders to a horizontal position relative to the base; fastening
the base expanders into the horizontal position; folding out the
hingedly attached roof into a horizontal position relative to the
base expanders; fastening the roof into the horizontal position;
folding out the hingedly attached exterior walls into a
perpendicular position relative to the base expanders; fastening
the exterior walls into the perpendicular position; folding out the
hingedly attached exterior sidewalls to fill gaps in the exterior
wall surface; fastening the exterior sidewalls into position;
folding out the hingedly attached interior walls to
compartnentalize the structure interior; and fastening the interior
walls into position.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/236,188 filed Sep. 29, 2000 and is incorporated
herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a portable containerized habitable
structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
structure that can be completely stored in an engineered, purpose
built, portable ISO shipping container that is constructed to be
hingedly transformed into a habitable unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the modular building industry a variety of relocatable
structures are provided for commercial and industrial uses.
[0004] In some instances steel shipping containers that have been
taken out of service are converted into habitable structures.
Generally, the structures are prefabricated and then transported to
a use site. These structures are satisfactory for their intended
purpose, but the usable habitable space is limited to the interior
volume of the shipping container. Once converted they usually void
their ISO Rating, as the unit is only engineered to be a shipping
container and not engineered and, purpose built to be a habitable
structure with the ability to pass ISO certification
requirements.
[0005] To overcome the disadvantages experienced with the
heretofore employed buildings having steel shipping container
cores, the present invention has been devised.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The habitable structure of the present invention is formed
of an engineered, purpose-built transformable rectangular enclosure
comprising a top wall portion and a transformable rectangular
container portion integral with the top wall portion. Preferably,
the rectangular container is dimensioned to at least one of the ISO
sizes of containers conventionally used for sending freight by ship
or plane to accommodate efficient and convenient
transportability.
[0007] The transformable rectangular container comprises first and
second container walls hingedly attached to opposing elongated
edges of the top wall portion at one of each of their elongated
edges. The attachment is made such that the container walls can be
pivotally placed in a perpendicular or horizontal position relative
to the top wall as desired. When the container walls are placed in
a horizontal position relative to the top wall, they form an
extended area of the roof of the habitable structure along with the
top wall portion.
[0008] First and second base expander portions are hingedly
attached to the opposing elongated edges of a base portion of the
transformable container. Each base expander is attached to the
container base along a first elongated edge. The base expander
portions are dimensioned proportionately in size and shape to the
container walls and are selectively positionable in a perpendicular
or horizontal position relative to the container base. When the
base expanders are horizontal to the base they function as part of
the floor of the habitable structure.
[0009] First and second end portions are fixedly and
perpendicularly attached at opposite ends of the base and the top
wall to form the frame or body of the rectangular container which
is used to store additional components of the habitable structure
which will be described hereinafter.
[0010] First and second exterior walls are attached to the second
elongated edges of the base expander portions that are attached to
the base at their first elongated edge. At a first elongated edge,
the exterior walls are attached to the base expanders such that
when the base expanders are placed in a horizontal position
relative to the base, the exterior walls can be placed either in a
perpendicular or horizontal position. When the exterior walls are
placed in the perpendicular position, they serve as a substantial
portion of the exterior of the habitable structure. Preferably,
each of these exterior walls includes at least one door and at
least one window. The exterior walls are adapted to be fastened to
the second elongated edges of the container walls such that they
stand fixedly perpendicular between the base and the top wall
portion. The walls are fastened through the use of a conventional
fastening means suited for such purpose.
[0011] Once the container walls (roof), the base expanders (floor),
and the exterior walls have been folded out as steps in forming the
habitable structure, a plurality of exterior sidewalls that are
hingedly attached to the frame and/or end portions of the
transformable container are folded out to complete the construction
of the exterior wall surface.
[0012] First and second roof sections are hingedly attached to the
top of the core unit along the elongated edges. At a first
elongated edge, the roof is attached such that when shipped they
are placed in a perpendicular position relative to the base, the
roof can be placed either in a perpendicular position relative to
the base, the roof can be placed either in a perpendicular or
horizontal position. When the roof is placed in the horizontal
position it serves as a substantial portion of the exterior of the
habitable structure. The roof is adapted to be fastened to the
second elongated edges of the container walls such that they stand
fixedly horizontal between the top base and top wall portion. The
roof is fastened through the use of a conventional fastening means
suited for such purpose.
[0013] In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of separate
exterior sidewalls may be included and used to complete the
exterior wall surface of the habitable structure to finish the
overall exterior assembly.
[0014] The exterior sidewall panels are adapted for slip fit
engagement into the gaps within the exterior walls and are secured
in placed through the use of a conventional fastening means suited
for such purpose. The exterior sidewalls are hingedly attached to
the side edge of the core unit along the elongated side edges. At a
first elongated side edge, the exterior sidewalls are attached such
that when shipped they are placed in a perpendicular and parallel
position relative to the base, the exterior sidewalls can be placed
only in a vertical position compared to the base and perpendicular
or parallel to the base. When the exterior sidewalls are placed in
the perpendicular position and not parallel to the base, they serve
as a substantial portion of the exterior of the habitable
structure. The exterior sidewalls are fastened to the structure
such that they stand fixedly vertically between the expanded floor
and the expanded roof. The exterior sidewalls are fastened through
the use of a conventional fastening means suited for such
purpose.
[0015] In this embodiment, both the exterior sidewall and roof
panels are stored within the body of the rectangular container when
the containerized structure is in its portable configuration.
[0016] Finally, the interior of the habitable structure is
compartmentalized by selectively positioning a plurality of
interior walls that are hingedly attached to the first and second
end portions and frame of the containerized structure. These
interior walls preferably include at least one door such that a
practical and comfortable living environment is attained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] To further describe the nature and objects of the present
invention, reference should be had to the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
which like parts are given like reference numerals and wherein:
[0018] FIGS. 1a-1f are plan view illustrations of a rectangular
enclosure being transformed into a habitable structure as according
to the invention;
[0019] FIG. 1g is a plan view of an alternative embodiment that
uses separate roof panels and exterior sidewalls that are manually
positioned and fastened in place;
[0020] FIGS. 2a-2b are plan view illustrations of multi-level
habitable structures as according to the invention; and
[0021] FIG. 3 is a plan view of multiple containerized structures
combined to form an expanded single level habitable structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Referencing FIG. 1a, an engineered, purpose-built, portable
transformable rectangular enclosure 10 includes a transformable
rectangular container integral to a top wall portion. Preferably,
the rectangular enclosure 10 is dimensioned to at least one of the
ISO sizes of containers conventionally used for sending freight by
ship or plane to accommodate transportability. Most preferably, the
container is dimensioned to be between 20-53 feet in length, 8-10
feet in width, and 8.5-9.5 feet in height. The transformable
rectangular container has first 12 and second 14 end portions that
are perpendicularly fixed between the container base 16 and a top
wall 18.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the end portions include at least
one window 20 and/or a door 22 opening. Preferably, the lengths or
sides 24 of the container are single doors that hingedly pivot
horizontally along the elongated edge of the top wall 18 versus
pivoting vertically as do most doors. (See FIG. 1b) Similarly, the
base roof 25 shown in FIG. 1c, are substantially proportional in
size and shape to the container walls 24, and are hingedly attached
along an elongated edge of the container top 18.
[0024] The roof 25 is hingedly attached to the top wall 18 of the
container such that the walls can be selectively lifted up to a
horizontal position where they function together with top wall to
form the roof of the habitable structure, see FIG. 1c.
[0025] Still referring to FIG. 1c, the transformable container
includes finished or uninished exterior walls 30 that preferably
include windows and doors and are hinged to an elongated edge of
the roof 25 such that the exterior walls 30 can be pivoted up from
a horizontal to a vertical position. The exterior walls are then
fastened to the free edges of the container walls such that they
stand perpendicular between the base expanders and the roof. (See
FIG. 1d) Alternatively, the exterior walls 30 may be manually
placed into position and fastened with a conventional fastening
means suited for such purpose.
[0026] A structure contains a plurality of exterior sidewalls 38
which may be finished or unfinished and preferably have doors
and/or windows therein. (See FIG. 1d). Preferably, these exterior
sidewalls 38 are hingedly and pivotally attached to either the
exterior walls 30 and/or the end portions 12 and/or the frame of
the containerized enclosure and are folded into place as part of
the exterior wall surface. In an alternative embodiment, the
exterior sidewalls or panels 38a may be separate and are manually
placed into position and fastened by a conventional fastening means
for such purpose. (See FIG. 1g). Additionally, the structure may
include separate panels 40 that are used to form portions of the
roof of the habitable structure. These panels are also manually
positioned and fastened in place with a conventional fastening
means suited for such purpose.
[0027] In the preferred embodiment, the structure includes interior
walls 32 which can be finished or unfinished and are hingedly
attached to the first and/or second end portions and/or frame 33
and/or other interior walls 31 of the containerized enclosure 10
and can be selectively positioned to compartmentalize the interior
of the habitable structure 36. (See FIG. 1e). Preferably, the
interior walls 32 include at least one door to provide a practical
and comfortable living environment where individuals can look into
or move between various rooms inside the structure. (See FIG.
1f).
[0028] With reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b, a multi-level structure
26 is shown that is constructed by combining two or more of the
transformable rectangular enclosures in a stacked configuration
after they have been converted into the habitable structure. In
this configuration, only the extreme top-level structure requires
roofing panels 40 to be put in place, as according to the
alternative embodiment of FIG. 1g. As best illustrated in FIG. 2a,
each sublevel of the multi-level structure may use the base and
base expanders of the next level as its ceiling while the superior
level uses additional panels to form the roof but preferably the
roof 25 is formed of the hingedly attached to the container as
shown in FIG. 1c.
[0029] Alternatively, the transformable containers can be
constructed adjacent to one another to form an expanded single
level habitable structure as best shown in FIG. 3.
[0030] In the alternative embodiment as shown in FIG. 1g, the
exterior sidewalls 38, and/or roof panels 40 that are not hingedly
attached to the rectangular frame 33 structure are capable of being
stored inside the container during transport. Additionally, the
interior of the habitable structure 36 is compartmentalized into
areas that include a kitchen and a bathroom. Preferably, the
kitchen includes cabinets, a refrigerator, a stove and sink; and
the bathroom includes a toilet, a shower, cabinets with a sink and
additional room for a washer and dryer and other amenities.
[0031] In the preferred embodiment, the walls of the transformable
rectangular container are pre-wired and pre-plumbed and have a
conventional means to connect with an appropriate central supply
source for electricity and water. The walls are fabricated having
dual channel recessed grooves to accommodate high and low voltage
lines for electrical power and additional grooves to accommodate
the piping necessary to provide water to desired locations
throughout the structure.
[0032] Preferably, the structure is transformed into a habitable
structure by first folding out the container walls of the
enclosure, which are fastened at a horizontal position with the top
wall portion to form the roof of the structure. Alternatively, the
container walls are hingedly attached to the container base and are
folded down to form the floor. Then by folding out the roof panels
from within the enclosure, which are fastened at a horizontal
position with the top wall portion of the container, to form the
expanded-roof of the structure. Next, the exterior walls, which are
hingedly attached to the expanded-roof are folded out and down to
form a substantial portion of the exterior walls. Finally, the
hingedly attached exterior sidewalls and interior walls, if any,
are folded out to complete the process. All the walls are adapted
to be secured in place after being folded out by a conventional
fastening means suitable for such purpose.
[0033] All the structures have a base shell and exterior and
interior openings. The floor plans, bathrooms, kitchens,
electrical, plumbing and finishes are assembled or manufactured
into the shell as ordered. During the folding out process the
hinged walls compress gaskets to substantially seal the unit. In
the preferred embodiment, all panels are set and hinged in place
during the manufacturing process such that the structure is shipped
having hingedly attached panels that are pivotally positioned into
place during deployment. If desired, the structures can be made
entirely without wood.
[0034] The foregoing figures and descriptions thereof are provided
as illustrative of some of the preferred embodiments of the
concepts of this invention and is not intended all-inclusive. For
example, the present invention may be used as a non-habitable
structure such as a portable storage facility. It is to be
understood that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement
of the components of the structure may be resorted to without
departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims
as presented.
* * * * *