BACKGROUND
[0001] A foldable habitation allowing an owner to fold the habitation from an unfolded state
to a folded state, to move it to another location, or for storage, is presented in
published international patent application no.
WO 02/066755. Such a foldable habitation can provide a cottage which can be displaced from year
to year or an office which can be installed on a temporary construction site, for
example, to give two of the numerous possibilities it offers. It can be folded into
a compact folded state for displacement and be unfolded and deployed to satisfy dwelling
needs.
[0002] Although the foldable habitation discussed above has been found satisfactory on many
aspects, there remained room for even further improvements.
[0003] Document
FR 2 557 620 discloses a foldable house transportable in the form of a stackable container. In
this house, at least some of its component parts in the opened out position constitute,
when the house is in the folded up position, a stackable container which is closed,
compact and homogeneous throughout its length, within which container are disposed,
folded up, all the other elements of the house, and in particular means a ladder-grider
ensuring the stability and the bracing of the unfolded house and the longitudinal
bending strength of the container formed by the folded up house.
SUMMARY
[0004] In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a foldable habitation comprising
: a base having an elongated central floor portion with a front end and a rear end;
a frame having a front portion secured to and vertically extending from the front
end of the central floor portion, a rear portion secured to and vertically extending
from the rear end of the central floor portion, and an upper portion connecting the
front portion and the rear portion, the frame being capable of supporting the weight
of the foldable habitation when the foldable habitation is lifted by the front portion
and the rear portion of the frame; and a covering having a central roof portion mounted
to the upper portion of the frame.
[0005] In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a foldable habitation comprising
: a base having an elongated central floor portion, generally oriented in a longitudinal
orientation, having a front end, a rear end, and two opposite sides, the base also
having two lateral floor portions, each lateral floor portion being hingedly mounted
along a respective one of the opposite sides of the central floor portion; a frame
having a front portion secured to and vertically extending from the front end of the
central floor portion, a rear portion secured to and vertically extending from the
rear end of the central floor portion, and an upper portion connecting the front portion
and the rear portion; a covering having a central roof portion mounted to the upper
portion of the frame and having two opposite sides, and two lateral roof portions,
each lateral roof portion being hingedly mounted along a respective one of the opposite
sides of the central roof portion; two opposite lateral walls, each lateral wall having
a front end and a rear end and being slidable in a transversal orientation along a
corresponding one of the lateral floor portions; and a front wall and a rear wall,
each having a central wall portion mounted to a respective one of the front portion
and the rear portion of the frame and having two opposite sides, and two foldable
lateral portions, each lateral portion being hingedly mounted between a respective
one of the opposite sides of the central wall portion and a respective one of the
front end and the rear end of a respective one of the two lateral walls, the lateral
portions being configured and adapted to unfold when the corresponding lateral wall
is outwardly slid.
[0006] In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a foldable habitation having
a foldable base including an elongated central floor portion having a front end and
a rear end, a foldable covering including a central roof portion, and deployable walls,
the foldable habitation being characterized in that it further has a supporting frame
having a plurality of interconnected steel beams, the frame having a front portion
secured to and vertically extending from the front end of the central floor portion,
a rear portion secured to and vertically extending from the rear end of the central
floor portion, and an upper portion connecting the front portion to the rear portion
of the frame and to which the central roof portion of the covering is mounted.
[0007] In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a method of handling a foldable
habitation in a folded configuration, the method comprising: removably fastening a
front leverage beam to an upper end of a front portion of a steel frame of the foldable
habitation; removably fastening a rear leverage beam to an upper end of a rear portion
of the steel frame of the foldable habitation; and lifting the foldable habitation
using the fastened front and rear leverage beams.
[0008] In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a foldable habitation that can be
unfolded and deployed to satisfy dwelling needs, and that can be folded into a compact
configuration for displacement or storage, for example. The foldable habitation has
a base with an elongated central floor portion, a frame secured to and vertically
extending from the central floor portion, and a covering having a central roof portion
mounted to the upper portion of the frame. The foldable habitation can be provided
as a cottage unit which can be displaced from year to year, a movable motel unit,
or an office unit which can be installed on a temporary construction site, to give
three examples of the numerous possibilities.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0009] Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed
description, taken in combination with the appended figures, in which:
[0010] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an example of an improved foldable habitation in
a folded state;
[0011] Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing unfolding of the lateral floor portions;
[0012] Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing unfolding of the lateral roof portion
on one side;
[0013] Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing unfolding of the walls on one side;
[0014] Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, with one side completely deployed, showing unfolding
of a lateral roof portion on another side;
[0015] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the improved foldable habitation of Fig. 1 in an
unfolded state;
[0016] Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 with the covering removed;
[0017] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the frame of the foldable habitation of Fig. 1;
[0018] Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 4, showing the lateral wall sliding
transversally;
[0019] Fig. 10 is an enlarged view, fragmented, of the front or rear portions of the frame
of Fig. 8, with components removed, and with a leverage beam fastened thereto;
[0020] Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the foldable habitation of Fig. 1 adapted to be
lifted by a crane.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Fig. 1 shows an example of an improved foldable habitation 10 in a folded state.
In the folded state, the foldable habitation has an elongated appearance in an orientation
referred to herein as the longitudinal orientation, schematized by a longitudinal
axis 11. The main components of the foldable habitation 10 are substantially symmetrical
along a median longitudinal plane. For the sake of clarity, a front end 12 and the
rear end 14 of the foldable habitation are defined, though it will be understood that
a front door of the foldable habitation can be provided in a wall referred to herein
as a lateral wall or rear wall, for example. Due to the symmetricallity of the foldable
habitation 10, the front end 12 and the rear end 14 are similar. Only one side of
the foldable habitation thus needs to be discussed in detail. For simplicity, when
two similar components are present on opposite sides of the foldable habitation 10,
only one of the two similar components is referred to using a reference numeral.
[0022] The foldable habitation 10 includes a base 16 having an elongated central floor portion
18 oriented in the longitudinal orientation 11, and two lateral floor portions 20.
Each lateral floor portion 20 is hingedly mounted to pivot around a corresponding
longitudinal side 30 of the central floor portion 18. The foldable habitation 10 also
has a covering 24, the covering 24 includes a central roof portion 26 oriented in
the longitudinal orientation 11, and two lateral roof portions 28. Similarly, the
two lateral roof portions 28 are hingedly mounted along two opposite sides of the
central roof portion 26. The foldable habitation 10 also has two opposite lateral
walls 32. In the folded state, each lateral roof portion 28 is nested between a corresponding
lateral floor portion 20 and a corresponding lateral wall 32. The foldable habitation
also has a front wall 34 and a rear wall (not shown). The front wall 34 has a central
wall portion 36 having two opposite sides 38, and two folded lateral portions 40.
Each one of the two folded lateral portions 40 is hingedly mounted between a corresponding
opposite side 38 of the central wall portion 36 and a corresponding lateral wall 32.
The rear wall (not shown) is similar to the front wall 34.
[0023] Reference will now be made to Figs. 1 to 6 to show successive steps for unfolding
the foldable habitation 10 from the folded state into an unfolded or deployed state.
These steps can be carried out in the reverse order to fold the foldable habitation
10.
[0024] In Fig.1 the foldable habitation 10 is in the folded state. In Fig. 2, the foldable
habitation 10 is shown positioned onto height-adjustable bearing members, jacks 42
in this case, and the lateral floor portions 20 are being unfolded by hingedly pivoting
around the corresponding side 30 of the central floor portion 18. In Fig. 3, the base
16 is deployed. A lateral roof portion 28 is being raised by hingedly pivoting along
a respective side of the central roof portion 26. In Fig. 4, a lateral wall 32 is
being slid transversally along a corresponding lateral floor portion 20, which results
in unfolding a corresponding lateral portion 40 of the front wall 34. The lateral
portion 40 of the front wall 34 includes two wall panels 44, 46, which are hingedly
connected together along their adjacent sides. The inner wall panel 44 has an inner
side hingedly connected to a corresponding side 38 of the central portion 36 of the
front wall 34, and the outer wall panel 46 has an outer side hingedly connected to
a front end of the lateral wall 32. A lateral portion of the rear wall (not shown)
is similarly unfolded at the rear of the foldable habitation 10 as the lateral wall
32 is transversally slid. In Fig. 5, one side of the foldable habitation 10 is shown
unfolded, and the other side is being deployed by raising the lateral roof portion
28. The lateral wall of that other side, and the corresponding lateral portions of
the front and rear walls, will then be deployed such as depicted in Fig. 4. In Fig.
6, the foldable habitation is shown in an unfolded state. A chimney 48 can also be
present on the front wall 34.
[0025] In Fig. 7, the foldable habitation 10 is shown with the covering 24 removed. A steel
beam frame 50 of the foldable habitation 10 is shown. Partitions 52, 54 were unfolded
subsequently to deployment of the lateral walls 32. Cupboards were affixed to one
partition 54, corresponding to a kitchen area. Furniture can then be added to the
foldable habitation as desired.
[0026] The example of a foldable habitation 10 described above and illustrated corresponds
to a cottage unit offering a panoramic view at the front due to the presence of numerous
large windows on the front wall. In alternate embodiments, the configuration of the
partitions, windows, and doors, can greatly depart from those illustrated to adapt
the foldable habitation to other uses. An office unit where the partitions are removed
or minimized, and a motel unit longitudinally separated in two halves and having two
front doors, and two bathrooms, one accessible from each half, are two of the numerous
examples of other uses. Many additional configurations and uses are also possible.
[0027] For illustrative purposes, the illustrated model has 7.3 m (24 feet) in length and
6.7 m (22 feet) in width when it is in the unfolded state. When it is folded, it can
be folded down to 2.6 m (8 feet and 7 inches) in width, which is an advantageous width
when exporting overseas because it allows shipping in standard size shipping containers.
In alternate configurations, various other lengths and widths are also possible.
[0028] A factor which has been known to limit the practicable length of previously known
foldable habitations was the important longitudinal deflection, caused by the weight
of the components, which has been known to occur when such folded habitations were
lifted to be put onto a trailer or into a container, for example. This was a source
of many handling difficulties, and in some cases, lifting required the installation
of an outer frame for the folded habitation, like an exoskeleton, to provide a lifting
structure to limit the longitudinal deflection during lifting.
[0029] One element which is very advantageous in the illustrated example of an improved
foldable habitation 10 is the incorporation of an internal frame 50. The incorporation
of an internal frame allows to alleviate many of the aforementioned handling difficulties
known to some previously known foldable habitations by providing a longitudinal deflection-resistant
structure. This can advantageously help in limiting the longitudinal deflection in
the components of the foldable habitation, thus easing the manipulation of foldable
habitations and allowing to provide foldable habitations of increased length as compared
to what could previously be achieved. For example, using a frame of steel beams, it
is now possible to produce and handle a foldable habitation having 10.3 m (34 feet)
in length, and potentially more.
[0030] Fig. 8 shows the steel frame 50 of the foldable habitation 10 shown and described
above. The steel frame 50 has an upper portion 52 to which the central roof portion
26 is mounted, and a front portion 54 and a rear portion 56 to which the central portions
36 of the front wall 34 and of the rear wall are mounted, respectively. The front
portion 54 and the rear portion 56 are secured to, and vertically extend, from the
front end and the rear end of the central floor portion 18, respectively. The upper
portion 52 of the frame 50 is assembled to the upper ends of the front portion 54
and the rear portion 56 of the frame 50.
[0031] In this example, a front brace 58 and a rear brace 60 are provided as part of the
front portion 54 and the rear portion 56, respectively. The braces 56, 58 each have
a fixed central portion 62 fastened along the corresponding one of the front or rear
end of the central floor portion 18. For illustrative purposes, it will be understood
that the central floor portion 18 and lateral floor portions 20 are constructed with
an internal structure, and the central floor portion 18, for example, can have structural
members extending along both transversally opposite sides 30. These side structural
members are connected at opposite ends to the central portion 62 of the braces 56,
58. The use of fixed central portions 62 of braces 56, 58 for securing the frame 50
to the central floor portion 18 advantageously allows to spread the retention forces
along the width of the central floor portion 18 when the foldable habitation 10 is
lifted. In alternate configurations, the frame can be connected to the floor differently.
[0032] The braces 56, 58 in this example, also include two lateral brace portions 64, each
being hingedly connected to a corresponding end of the central brace portion 62. This
particular configuration is optional, but advantageously allows to provide the hinged
connection between the lateral floor portions 20 and the central floor portion 18
as part of the frame 50. The use of braces 56, 58 can also contribute to add structure
to the lateral floor portions 20, which can be helpful in leveling the habitation
10.
[0033] Certain conventional wood structures have a tendency to deform with time due to warping
of the wood boards during temperature variations, or aging. A metal frame can advantageously
overcome these limitations of wood structures because they are more stable with time.
Further, providing the metal frame internally allows to somewhat minimize the remaining
deformation, or relative displacement, which can occur in the components which are
mounted to the frame.
[0034] In this example, the upper portion 52 of the frame 50 includes two longitudinally
oriented and transversally spaced-apart I-beams 66. I-beams advantageously provide
an important amount of longitudinal deflection resistance to the frame 50 and can
advantageously be manufactured in various lengths and sizes. It will be understood
that beams having other cross-sectional shapes than I-beams, but also offering satisfactory
longitudinal deflection characteristics can alternately be used. The particular size
of I-beams for a particular foldable habitation application can be calculated by persons
of ordinary skill in the art for a given overall weight, and weight distribution,
of a particular embodiment of a foldable habitation. The two parallel I-beams 66 are
transversally interconnected by a plurality of struts 68. In the illustrated example,
all the components of the frame 50 are made of steel, although components of other
metals can also be used. In alternate embodiments, different configurations of can
alternately be used for the upper frame portion 52.
[0035] In this example, the front portion 54 and the rear portion 56 of the frame 50 are
similar, and both include two vertical beams 70, or studs, each one of the studs extending
downwardly from a respective one of the two 1-beams 66. Alternate configurations can
also be used.
[0036] In this example, the frame 50 is further reinforced by an optional intermediate portion
72 also having two vertical beams 74, or studs, and a transversal floor beam 76. The
intermediate portion 72 serves to suspend an intermediate portion of the central floor
portion 18 to the upper portion 52 of the frame 50. This advantageously allows to
reduce longitudinal deflection in the central floor portion 18. In alternate configurations,
the intermediate portion 72 can be omitted, or additional intermediate portions can
be added, to adapt the frame to different lengths of foldable habitations, or to different
weight and deflection characteristics of the foldable habitation components, for example.
[0037] Referring now to Fig. 9, to ease the transversal sliding of the lateral walls 32
of the foldable habitation when folding or unfolding, the lateral walls 32 can be
supported on wheels or rollers. In this example, a transversally oriented wheel 80
is provided at each longitudinal end of the lateral wall 32. The front brace 58, and
more particularly the lateral brace portions 64 thereof, are provided with guiding
tracks 82 for the wheel 80. Guiding tracks are optional, but can advantageously be
used to help maintaining the longitudinal alignment of the lateral walls during the
transversal sliding displacement. The guiding tracks can advantageously be provided
on either one of the front end and the rear end of the lateral floor portions 20 rather
than being provided on both the front end and the rear end, because using two opposite
guiding tracks can lead to blockage of the lateral wall 32 if obliqueness occurs during
the transversal sliding displacement, such as if one end of the lateral wall 32 is
moved faster than the opposite end. Providing guiding tracks made of metal is advantageous
because it provides a hard surface on which the wheel 80 can be easily slid. This
hard surface is durable and helps maintain the foldability of the habitation 10 over
time. In embodiments where lateral brace portions 64 are used, the guiding track 82
can advantageously be provided as part of the frame 50. The guiding tracks 82 can
thus be automatically aligned with the central floor portion 18. Further, providing
the guiding track 82 as part of the lateral brace portion 64 offers deformation resistance
over time.
[0038] In this example, the guiding track 82 has a vertically-extending male portion 84
extending along the upper side of the lateral brace portion 64, and the wheel 80 has
a circumferential female groove 86 adapted to receive the male portion 84 of the guiding
track 82. The use of the male portion in the guiding track rather than in the wheel
is advantageous because the vertically-extending male portion contributes to impede
infiltration of water from the outside.
[0039] Fig. 10 shows that the studs 70 of the front portion 54 or rear portion 56 of the
frame 50 can advantageously have threaded apertures 88 defined in an upper end portion
thereof. The fastener-receiving apertures 88 can receive fasteners used for securing
a leverage beam 90 directly to the frame 50. The threaded apertures 88 thus act as
fixation points, or lifting areas of the frame 50. The fasteners used to fasten the
leverage beams to the frame 50 collectively support the entire weight of the foldable
habitation 10 when it is lifted. The positioning of the threaded apertures 88 close
to the upper portion 52 of the frame 50 is advantageous because it allows to distribute
the lifting force to the upper portion 52 of the frame 50 with a relatively small
moment of force between the front portion 54 or rear portion 56 and the upper portion
52 because of the relatively small distance, or lever arm, between the threaded apertures
88 and the upper portion 52.
[0040] Fig. 11, shows an example of how the foldable habitation 10 can be lifted. A front
leverage beam 89 is secured to the front end 12 of the foldable habitation 10, and
more particularly to the frame 50 thereof, whereas a rear leverage beam 90 is secured
to the rear end 14. The front and rear leverage beams 89, 90 can advantageously be
hooked upon at opposite ends thereof, to raise the entire foldable habitation 10 for
manipulation and displacement. As discussed above, manipulating the foldable habitation
10 in this manner is especially advantageous for exporting overseas, or when shipping
by train, in which cases the foldable habitation 10 can be raised and placed into
a shipping container. When shipping or moving by truck, the foldable habitation can
also be placed on a truck bed by jacking, for example.
[0041] As can be seen therefore, the examples described above and illustrated are intended
to be exemplary only. The scope of the invention(s) is intended to be determined solely
by the appended claims.
1. Zusammenklappbare Wohneinheit (10) mit einer zusammenklappbaren Grundfläche (16),
die einen länglichen mittigen Bodenabschnitt (18) mit einem vorderen Ende und mit
einem hinteren Ende aufweist, mit einer zusammenklappbaren Abdeckung (24), die über
einen mittigen Dachabschnitt (26) und über ausklappbare Wände (32, 34) verfügt, wobei
die zusammenklappbare Wohneinheit (10) weiterhin einen Stützrahmen (50) mit einer
Anzahl von untereinander verbundenen Stahlträger (66, 68) aufweist, wobei der Rahmen
(50) über einen vorderen Abschnitt (54), der an dem vorderen Ende des mittigen Bodenabschnitts
(18) befestigt ist und sich von diesem aus senkrecht erstreckt, über einen hinteren
Abschnitt (56), der an dem hinteren Ende des mittigen Bodenabschnitts (18) befestigt
ist und sich von diesem aus senkrecht erstreckt, und über einen oberen Abschnitt (52)
verfügt, der den vorderen Abschnitt (54) mit dem hinteren Abschnitt (56) des Rahmens
(50) verbindet und an dem der mittige Dachabschnitt (26) der Abdeckung (24) angebracht
ist, wobei die Grundfläche (16) zwei seitliche Bodenabschnitte (20) aufweist, die
gelenkig mit einer entsprechenden Seite des mittigen Bodenabschnitts (18) verbunden
sind, und wobei die aufklappbaren Wände (32, 34) über zwei in Längsrichtung ausgerichtete
Seitenwände (32) verfügen, wobei jede Seitenwand mit Rädern versehen sowie in Querrichtung
auf ihren Rädern (80) entlang eines entsprechenden der seitlichen Bodenabschnitte
(20) verschiebbar ist und wobei jede Seitenwand (32) über ein Vorderrad, das entlang
eines vorderen Endes des zugehörigen seitlichen Bodenabschnitts (20) verschiebbar
ist, sowie über ein Hinterrad verfügt, das entlang eines hinteren Endes des zugehörigen
seitlichen Bodenabschnitts (20) verschiebbar ist, wobei entweder das vordere Ende
oder das hintere Ende des zugehörigen seitlichen Bodenabschnitts (20) eine Radführungsspur
(82) aufweist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Radführungsspur (82) an einem Gelenkabschnitt einer mit dem Rahmen (50) verbundenen
Trägerstrebe (64) ausgebildet ist.
2. Zusammenklappbare Wohneinheit (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Radführungsspur (82) einen sich senkrecht erstreckenden vorstehenden Abschnitt
(84) aufweist und dass die zugehörigen Räder (80) eine passende aufnehmende vertiefte
Nut (86) aufweisen, die umfänglich darin ausgebildet ist.