Mobile, expandable disaster shelter

Abstract

The invention encompasses a mobile, expandable shelter intended to provide medium term housing to disaster victims. The invention minimizes moving parts so as to make the shelter more structurally sound and allows full deployment by two people in less than ten minutes without the use of a motor to supply hydraulic, pneumatic or electric assistance. This shelter will maximize space by offering the unique feature of side shells that slide over the base structure not out of the base structure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSERED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

[0003] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to a mobile, expandable, disaster shelter that would serve as medium-term housing for victims of a disaster.

[0005] Recreational vehicles were utilized as medium term emergency housing after hurricane Katrina. The most obvious limitation of recreational vehicles is their relatively small size resulting from the width restrictions of a normal road or highway. There have been many variations of slide-out room extensions but none of those adequately provide the space requirements to house a displaced family. Moreover, recreational vehicles and other types of expandable structures generally due not meet the stringent governmental structural requirements.

[0006] In addition to being structurally sound, disaster relief shelters must be capable of deploying quickly with few people involved. The unique invention described herein, is a mobile expandable disaster shelter that can be deployed in less than 10 minutes by only two people and can be deployed manually without any motorized aids--hydraulic, pneumatic or electric. There are only eight moving parts for each structure thus minimizing seals and adding stability.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,518 of Walter Fenns describes a collapsible building, which is mounted on the platform of a conveyance that has a first elongated unit mounted on a platform, and a pair of collapsible elongated units, which flank the first unit when the building is fully erected. This is a large heavy structure requiring a motor to drive hydraulic pistons.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,874 of Leslie J. Hegedus discloses a mobile unit comprises a lorry trailer having sidewall portions, which pivot down to form a large floor and upwardly slideable panels or frames from which unfold side roof portions. This invention discloses a trailer-mounted structure that is very complicated and time-consuming to erect. This invention also utilizes canopies instead of solid roof construction.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,730 of Bruce A. Jurgensen shows an expandable structure, which may be expanded on a selected site into a composite structure incorporating the core structure and a contiguous expanded section. This is another patent that discloses a heavy device that requires "power beam units" to deploy and utilizes numerous moving parts.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,854 of Brian D. Johnson et al, describes a container with fold down sides to create an expanded structure. This again is another patent that uses fabric for the roof eliminating its usefulness in cold-weather climates or for expended periods of time.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,224 of Ray R. Gunthardt describes a multitude of structures composed of many intricate parts and mechanism, all of which would create a great deal of weight and be very complicated to erect. Moreover, it does not provide a flat floor limiting its functionality for people in wheelchairs.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,988 of Jose Raymon Molina teaches of an expandable retractable portable structure having a movable portion hingedly connected to a stationary portion. This patent is similar to the Fennes U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,518 having a complete side unit hinge out from a central unit requiring a motor to drive hydraulic pistons.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,414 of Floyd L. Morrow describes a structure that will expand on both length and width outwardly at the same time and then elevate all the roof members together in a secondary operation to a desired height. This invention is very complicated having dozens of moving parts. The variable height results in a seam around the middle of the structure lending itself to air and water leaks and brings into question its structural stability.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] An objective of the present invention is to provide a room extension system intended to offer medium term housing to victims of disasters. This system is intended to minimize moving parts and joints so as to make it more structurally sound. The unique feature of the system is that it does not slide out of the base structure thus limiting the size of the extension, but rather slides over the base structure thus maximizing the size of the extension. The system features a support floor which folds down from the side of the base structure providing a flat floor throughout the structure. The expandable sides then slide out over the base structure supported by the floor that was previously deployed. The deployment can be performed by two people in less than ten minutes without the use of hydraulic, pneumatic or electric assistance meaning no motor is required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0015] FIGS. 1-9 are rear oblique views of the structure depicting different stages of the deployment process from the non-expanded to the expanded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] FIG. 1 shows the collapsed state of the base trailer. The fold down panel 2 forms the exterior wall in the collapsed state and will serve as the floor in the expanded state. Item 1 is the left shell of the structure. Items 3 are the adjustable support arms. Items 4 are the brackets that will receive the floor pivot arms.

[0017] FIG. 2 depicts panel 2 folding down on both the left and right sides of the structure. This view further reveals item 1, the left shell of the structure.

[0018] FIG. 3 shows the floor panels 2 fully deployed. The adjustable support arms 3 have been locked in place. The floor brackets 4 are shown dotted as they are on the underside of floor panel 2. Note that the left shell 1 has not moved at this point.

[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates the brackets 4 and the locking swing arms 5 that are located below the folding floor panels 2 and the base floor panel 8. Shell 1 is not shown for ease of interpretation. The swing arms 5 will simply pivot 90 degrees resting in brackets 4. This will lock the folding panels 2 into the base panel 8 creating a single solid floor. FIG. 5 shows the locking swing arms in their deployed position.

[0020] FIG. 6 portrays the left side shell 1 sliding towards its expanded position. This figure also shows the first view of the right side shell 6. FIG. 7 shows the left side shell 1 fully deployed.

[0021] FIG. 8 shows the right side shell 6 sliding outward from the base structure 7. FIG. 9 illustrates the fully deployed structure. The right side shell 6 has traversed all the way to the right fully exposing the base structure 7

Claims

1. A mobile, expandable, disaster shelter intended to offer medium term housing to victims of a disaster that minimizes moving parts so as to make the shelter more structurally sound and allows full deployment by two people in less than ten minutes without the use of a motor to supply hydraulic, pneumatic or electric assistance. This shelter will maximize space by offering the unique feature of side shells that slide over the base structure not out of the base structure. The shelter is comprised of: a) rigid floor panels that are connected by hinges to the base structure and; b) when lowered, the floor panels are locked into the base structure using swing arms and brackets that create one solid flat level floor and; c) two side shells that slide out over the base structure supported by the level floor and; d) construction using light weight materials will allow two men to deploy the shelter without the use of motorized assistance.