Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FOLDABLE TRANSPORTABLE SHELTER
TECHNICAL FIELD
Ioooil The present invention generally relates to
transportable shelters and, more particularly, to a
transportable shelter which is foldable in order to
facilitate the transport thereof.
BACKGROUND ART
tooo2l Transportable shelters are well known and used
in a plurality of industries and/or activities, such as the
forestry and construction industries. For instance, events
which are temporary and which require shelter facilities
conveniently use transportable shelters in order to reduce
costs and accelerate the settling operations.
foo03~ U. S 'Patent No. 4, 741, 133 issued on May 3, 1988
to Kutzner discloses a transportable shelter having a
rectangular-prism shaped rigid structure of the dimensions
of a freight trailer which is transportable as such, in a
position referred to as transport state. The transportable
shelter, in order to enlarge the inner space thereof, has at
least one side wall that can be moved generally parallel to
its transport state position and towards the outside. The
moveable side walls of the transportable shelter can be
folded in accordionlike fashion while the floor and the
ceiling of the rigid frame are fastened thereto. These
shelters are also heavy, bulky, expensive, and time-
consuming and labor-intensive to install and transport.
fooo4) Although transportable shelters have been
disclosed in the prior art, these have been known to have
generally rectangular prism shapes similar to freight
trailers. These transportable shelters are thus well
adapted to be transported by the typical freight trucks.
However, in some instances, these known transportable
shelters are pulled and displaced by vehicles smaller than
the typical freight trucks, in which case they represent a
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substantial load by their drag-prone configuration, a
problem that does not occur with freight trucks due to the
size thereof. Tt is also difficult or impossible to
transport these shelters in hard-to-reach areas along
secondary unpaved roads and through narrow gravel roads in
bush areas.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
tooos) It is a feature of the present invention to
provide a foldable transportable shelter which substantially
overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.
tooos) According to the above feature of the present
invention, from a broad aspect, the present invention
provides a foldable transportable shelter comprising a box-
like body being deployable from a transport configuration,
wherein the box-like body has wheels and is adapted to be
hitched by a vehicle, and a unfolded shelter configuration,
wherein the box-like body has walls thereof unfolded to form
a shelter, and roof trusses being provided to interconnect
the walls to provide for lateral expansion of the shelter
and support for roof panels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Looo~) A preferred embodiment of the present invention
will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
tooos) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable
transportable shelter constructed in accordance with the
present invention, in a transport configuration;
tooo9) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shelter in
the transport configuration, as attached to a vehicle;
tooiol FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shelter as
supported by wheels for being unfolded from a transport
configuration to an unfolded shelter configuration;
tools) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shelter in
preparation for a lateral expansion;
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tool2) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shelter
further in preparation for the lateral expansion;
Lool3) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shelter
being laterally expanded;
tool4) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the shelter
further being laterally expanded;
(00151 FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the shelter
having been expanded and being immobilized to the ground;
foo161 FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the shelter
having a gable thereof being formed;
tool) FIG. 10 is a further perspective view of the
shelter having the gable being formed;
tools) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the shelter in
an unfolded shelter configuration, with a front entry
opened;
fools) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the shelter
having the front entry being closed;
f0o2o) FIG. 13 is a further perspective view of the
shelter having the front entry being closed;
too2i) FIG. 14 is a still further perspective view of
the shelter having the front entry being closed;
Loo22) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the shelter
having a top portion of the front entry closed;
Ioo23) FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the shelter
having a bottom portion of the front entry being closed;
too24) FIGS . 18A to 18C are perspective views of the
shelter 20 in various front entry opening configurations;
too25) FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the shelter
illustrating translation directions thereof; and
t0026) FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a shelter
formed of a plurality of shelters mounted end to end.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
too2~~ Referring to the drawings, and more particularly
to Fig. 1, a foldable transportable shelter in accordance
with the present invention is generally shown at 20 in its
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transport configuration. The shelter 20 in its transport
configuration is similar in configuration to a trailer and
has a boxlike portion sitting on wheel systems. The boxlike
portion of the shelter 20 is defined by a front surface 22,
a rear surface 24, lateral surfaces 26, top surface 28, and
bottom surface 30, all defined by panels. The bottom
surface 30 has a front portion 30A thereof, vertically
offset with a main portion 30B thereof. For instance, the
length is typically of about forty feet, the width of eight
feet, and the height of about twelve feet. However, it is
obvious that the shelter 20 may be constructed with other
dimensions. Wheel systems 32, only one of which is shown in
Fig. 1, are secured to the main portion 30B of the bottom
surface 30 of the shelter 20. Jacks 34 protrude from
opposed sides of the bottom surface 30, in continuation of
the lateral surfaces 26. Similarly, telescopic legs 36 are
coplanar with the lateral surfaces 26, and protrude
downwardly from the bottom surface 30. The wheel systems 32.
each include wheels 38 and a wheel support structure 40. A
fifth-wheel connection system 42 is positioned at a front
end of the shelter 20. More precisely, the fifth-wheel
connector system 42 is connected at the intersection between
the front surface 22 and the portion 30A of the bottom
surface 30. Fifth-wheel connection systems are well known
in the art, and are used for connecting trailers to
vehicles.
(oo2sl Referring now to Fig. 2, the shelter 20 in its
transport configuration is shown being connected to a
vehicle 44. The vehicle 44 is typically a tractor, a truck
such as a pick-up truck, or any other vehicle adapted for
carrying loads. Therefore, the vehicle 44 supplies
complementary parts of the fifth-wheel connection system 42,
whereby the vehicle 44 can be secured to the shelter 20. In
Fig. 2, the vehicle 44 is shown on the verge of being
separated from the shelter 20. In order to do so, the front
jacks 34 must raise the shelter 20 such that the shelter 20
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is supported thereby. In the transforming operation of the
shelter 20 from its transport configuration to a shelter
configuration, it is preferred that wheels 46 be operatively
mounted to bottom ends of both the front and the rear jacks
34. The wheels 46 are positioned so as to have a rolling
direction normal to the lateral surfaces 26 of the shelter
20, i.e., with a rotational axis parallel to the lateral
surfaces 26. The jacks 34 are well known in the art and are
preferably manually actuated, e.g., through handles 48.
100291 Referring to Fig. 3, the shelter 20 in its
transport configuration is in position for the transforming
operations to take place. The shelter 20 is supported by
the wheels 46 of the front and rear jacks 34, and is
separated from the vehicle 44. It is pointed out that the
shelter 20 can be put away in its transport configuration,
and in such a case the shelter 20 rests on the front jacks
34 (without wheels 46) and the wheels 38.
Ioo3o~ Referring to Fig. 4, the top surface 28 is shown
consisting of a pair of top wall portions 50, both hinged to
a beam 52, generally positioned at a center of the shelter
20. The top wall portions 50 are also hinged at outer edges
thereof to lateral wall panels 54. Arrows A4 illustrate
that the top wall portions 50 are brought towards one
another. In doing so, the lateral wall panels 54 will be
lifted from the lateral surfaces 26 of the shelter 20.
Hinges 56 between the top wall portions 50 and the lateral
wall panels 54 enable angle changes therebetween, so as to
form a roof for the shelter 20.
Ioo3i) Referring to Fig. 5, the hinging of the top wall
portions 50 is stopped by the top wall portions 50 being
coplanar. At this point, the hinges 56 are generally
colinear, and the lateral wall panels 54 form a typical
slanted roof.
100321 Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the shelter 20 is
shown expanding laterally. More precisely, the lateral
surfaces 26 are spaced from one another by various
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mechanisms in the shelter 20. For instance, telescopic
beams, hinged beams and structures, and the like enable the
shelter 20 to be expanded laterally. More specifically,
roof trusses 62 (a few of which are visible) being hinged at
side posts (not shown) and at the king post (not shown) will
enable the expansion of the shelter 20. Furthermore, the
wheels 46 of the jacks 34 will enable and participate in
this expansion. The front surface 22 and the rear surface
24 remain in position during this lateral expansion. In
Fig. 6, the shelter 20 is half expanded laterally, but the
top wall/ portions 50 and the lateral wall panels 54 are
fully deployed from the lateral surfaces 26.
Ioo3a~ Referring to Fig. 8, the shelter 20 is shown
having reached its lateral expansion limit, in which the
roof trusses 62 are fully extended, thereby preventing
further spacing of the lateral surfaces 26. The top wall
portions 50 and the lateral wall panels 54 are generally
coplanar. In this position, the roof trusses 62, being
fully expanded, provide rigidity to the shelter 20. The
wheels 46 are no longer of use, whereby they can be removed
by expanding the telescopic legs 36. Therefore, as shown in
Fig. 9, the shelter 20 is now supported by the telescopic
legs 36. The wheels 46 of the jacks 34 are removed and
replaced by base plates 47, and the jacks 34 are adjusted
vertically thereafter to help in supporting the shelter 20.
Ioo341 Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, the front surface
22 is shown being part of a front wall 23. The front wall
23, which supports the fifth-wheel connection system 42, is
hinged in a middle thereof such that a bottom portion of the
wall 23 can be hinged inwardly into the shelter 20, as shown
by arrow A9 of Fig. 9, until the bottom portion of the wall
23 abuts against the adjacent roof truss 62, to which it is
secured. Furthermore, flaps 58 are folded to a rear surface
of the front wall 23, and the flaps 58 are unfolded to
define a gable 64 of the roof of the shelter 20. A similar
action is executed in the back of the shelter 20, wherein
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the rear surface 24 is provided with flaps. The arrows A10
show a direction in which the bottom surface 30, consisting
of a bottom wall 31, must be hinged in order to define a
bottom portion 66 of lateral walls 68 of the shelter 20.
The lateral walls 68 are formed of the bottom portions 66
(which were a floor of the shelter 20 in its transport
configuration) and of the lateral walls 26.
(0035) Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, arrows All
illustrate the unfolding of the flaps 58 to form the gable
64, which is then pushed upward. All roof trusses 62 are
translationally mounted to the studs 60 supporting the
lateral walls 26 of the shelter 20. The roof trusses 62
shape the roof to a typically pitched roof, or gable roof
shape, with the gables 64 positioned at the front and rear
of the shelter 20. It is pointed out that the roof trusses
62 may be used to retain the bottom portions 66 of the
lateral wall 68, by having the bottom portions 66 secured
thereto. Therefore, upon displacement of the roof trusses
62, the bottom portions 66 may be simultaneously deployed to
form the lateral walls 68.
Loons) Still referring to Fig. 11, the wheels 38 and a
wheel support structure 40 are shown still mounted to the
bottom portions 66 of the lateral wall 68 of the shelter 20.
As the bottom portions 66 have been hinged outwardly, the
wheels 38 and the wheel support structures 40 are in this
awkward position.
too3~) It is obvious that the wheel support structures
40 can be detached from the bottom portions 66, along with
the wheels 38, for instance when the shelter 20 stays in an
unfolded shelter configuration, as illustrated in Fig. 11.
(oo3a) Figs. 12 to 19 illustrate various openings of a
front entry 70 of the shelter 20 in its unfolded shelter
configuration. More precisely, the lateral wall 68 has
portions thereof adjacent to the front entry 70 and the rear
entry (not shown), consisting of a plurality of hinged
panels 72. Also, the hinged panels 72 are either part of
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the lateral surfaces 26 or the bottom portions 66, such that
they may be unfolded individually to provide various
openings to the front entry 70. In Figs. 12 to 15, the
hinged panels 72 of the lateral surfaces 26 are unfolded to
create a front entry wall 74. Accordingly, in the
configuration illustrated in Fig. 15, the front entry 70 and
the rear entry (not visible) can be substantially closed, so
as to provide greater front and rear sheltering, while being
open to circulation in and out of the shelter 20. In
Fig. 16, the hinged panel 72 of the bottom portions 66 are
shown in the process of being closed. In Fig. 17, the front
entry 70 is shown fully closed.
Ioo391 In Figs. 18A to 18C, the hinged panels 72 of
both the lateral surfaces 26 and the bottom portions 66 are
shown being interconnected to open and close simultaneously:
Figs. 18A and 18B illustrate the hinged panels 72 being set
into position to provide two permanent opening
configurations. In Fig. 18A, the shelter 20 has an opening
of approximately four feet. In Fig. 18B, the opening has an
opening of about 15 feet. In Fig. 18C, the opening has the
width dimension of the shelter 20, namely around 22 feet.
Ioo4o~ In Fig. 19, arrow A19 illustrates the shelter 20
in its unfolded shelter configuration being translated. The
wheels 46 must be kept in jacks 34 such that the shelter 20
is supported by wheels. In order to enable the shelter 20
to be displaced in any direction, the wheels 46 are mounted
to the jacks 34 by swivel joints (not visible).
Ioo4i7 In Fig. 20, three shelters 20 are shown
positioned end to end to form a shelter 20'. It is obvious
that further shelters 20 can be added to this series of
shelters to increase the size of the shelter 20'.
Loo42~ The beams are typically fabricated of steel or
aluminum, whereas the various panels consist of tarps or
rigid materials, such as plastic, or aluminum or steel
sheets. The typical dimensions for the shelter 20 are of 22
feet of width, 12 feet from the ground to a bottom of the
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gable 64, 40 feet of length, and nine feet from the ground
to a bottom of the roof trusses 62. The shelter 20 may be
transformed from its transport configuration to its unfolded
shelter configuration using various types of actuation,
e.g., hydraulic, electrical, cables or winches, and all
these steps can be achieved by one person. The actuation is
used for lift the top wall portions 50 and the lateral wall
panels 54, space the lateral surfaces 26 apart, and lift the
roof trusses 62 to their predetermined height in the
unfolded shelter configuration.
Ioo43~ It is within the ambit of the present invention
to cover any obvious modifications of the embodiments
described herein, provided such modifications fall within
the scope of the appended claims.
