Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
  • E04B1/348—Structures composed of units comprising at least considerable parts of two sides of a room, e.g. box-like or cell-like units closed or in skeleton form
  • E04B1/34807—Elements integrated in a skeleton
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
  • A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
  • A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
  • A47L5/38—Built-in suction cleaner installations, i.e. with fixed tube system to which, at different stations, hoses can be connected
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B29/00—Accommodation for crew or passengers not otherwise provided for
  • B63B29/02—Cabins or other living spaces; Construction or arrangement thereof
  • B63B29/025—Modular or prefabricated cabins
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
  • E04H3/00—Buildings or groups of buildings for public or similar purposes; Institutions, e.g. infirmaries or prisons
  • E04H3/02—Hotels; Motels; Coffee-houses; Restaurants; Shops; Department stores
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
  • B63B35/44—Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
  • B63B2035/4426—Stationary floating buildings for human use, e.g. floating dwellings or floating restaurants
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A30/00—Adapting or protecting infrastructure or their operation

Definitions

• BMAS Modular Accommodation System
• the invention relates to Modular Accommodations.
• One objective of the invention is to provide a Modular Accommodation Capsule (BC), which is a prefabricated, compact, sound insulated "private quarters" (i.e. bedroom and bathroom) where 2 to 4 persons can also relax, work, play, listen and view immersive” multimedia, etc.
• BC Modular Accommodation Capsule
• BCs are preferably equipped with BMAS Beds (BBs), a specially designed bed, which can be fully converted to a chair, with all intermediate configurations suitable for relaxation.
• BBs BMAS Beds
• BCs are usually manufactured in Modular Accommodation Modules (BM) formed by a number of BCs fitted in an ISO container frame.
• BM Modular Accommodation Modules
• Two BMs can be typically combined face-to-face (F2F), typically reaching a width of only 24' (7.3m), including the built-in central corridor.
• the BCs of (and) a BM can be cleaned semi-automatically with the assistance of a Modular Accommodation "Servant" (BS).
• BS Modular Accommodation "Servant”
• Another objective of the invention is, through the combination of BCs and/or BMs, on one or several levels, to allow the speedy and easy construction of very compact, economical yet attractive, collective housing facilities such as "Observer” Stand-alones, “Shelters”, “Step combinations”, “Motels”, “Camps”, “Hotels/Youth hostels”, “River cruisers/Floating hotels”, “Cruising catamarans”, etc... when complemented with the usual "shared facilities” or simply "integrated in a building"
• BMAS Modular Accommodation System
• BM A Modular Accommodation Module, i.e. formed by a number of BCs fitted in an ISO container frame
• BB A specially designed bed, which an be fully converted to a chair
• BCT A twin BC, i.e. with 2 beds and 2 extra berths
• BCS A single BC, i.e. with 1 bed and 1 extra berth
• WPB A BC Without a Private Bathroom
• BMAS Modular Accommodation Modules (BM) 17 to 20 20' Module, "Compact” 5' single Accommodation Capsules WPB 17 (HC) + Bathroom Top section
• Consecutive configurations (Bed height at ground level) 23 Consecutive configurations (Bed height at usual level) 24
• the Accommodation Capsule (BC) & Module (BM) The Accommodation Capsule (BC) & Module (BM)
• the Accommodation Capsule is a prefabricated, compact, sound insulated "private quarters" (i.e. bedroom 1 and bathroom 2), accommodating 1 to 4 users, who can also use it to relax, work, play, listen and view "immersive” multimedia, etc.
• BCs are either twins (BCT), equipped with 2 beds and 2 extra berths, accommodating 2 up to 4 users, or singles (BCS), equipped with a single bed and an extra berth, accommodating 1 up to 2 users, and any of these BCs can possibly be designed as a "compact” type and/or “without private bathroom” (WPB), to suit some specific applications.
• BCT twins
• BCS singles
• WPB private bathroom
• BCs are usually built into Accommodation Modules (BM) of five 8' Twin, or four 10' Twin, or eight 5' Single, or seven 5'8" Single, or eight 6'8 " Single BCs (or a combination thereof) fitted in a 40' ISO container frame, or of two 10' Twins or four 5' Singles or three 6'8" Singles (or a combination thereof) in a 20' container.
• BM Accommodation Modules
• BCs are designed to fit in an ISO container.
• BMAS Modular Accommodation System
• An ISO container has an 8' (2.43m) external width and 8'6" (2.60m) external height (or 9'6" (2.90m) for the "Hi-Cube” type), combined with standard lengths of 10', 20' and 40' (3.05, 6.10 and 12.2m respectively).
• BCs widths mentioned above may be adapted, in case some space needs to be provided for at the end of a BM to house some machinery or equipment.
• BCs would have dimensions and characteristics in between respectively the 8'and 10' twins and the 5' and 6'8" singles.
• the Standard Twin Accommodation Capsule & Module (BCT) (Fig. 1 to 6, 9 to 11 , 21 , 23 & 51 to 55)
• a Twin Accommodation Capsule is a BC with 2 adjustable beds 4 (and 2 additional berths 5) and a private bathroom 2, which should be adequate for most applications.
• All materials inside the BC will preferably be black, or dark and/or "warm” coloured, such as for example in natural coloured tainted wood, except possibly the mattresses (for example in a sharp colour), and the bathroom will preferably be white or in a light colour (and in wet-cleanable materials).
• Each BC shall be linked to the container frame through silent blocks 6 or equivalents for proper sound- and vibration-insulation.
• a BC may actually not be fully operational at time of shipment, specially in countries where the width of loads on roads is normally limited to below 10'.
• an angled front part 7 (which can be possibly shipped in the same container) may have to be erected on the site, which is a very simple and fast process since it does not contain any piping and very limited cabling.
• This front part 7 is a very important feature of the BC design. Indeed, it adds to the required depth to the BC, thereby providing for full-length adjustable beds (210cm) but also heightens the entrance to the BC.
• a flat screen TV/monitor 11 can also slide in front of the entrance on rails, which are next and parallel to those of the BCs sliding entrance door.
• BMAS Modular Accommodation System
• the lower section 31 (i.e. approximately the lower third) of the angled front part is not transparent, for obvious reasons.
• It can be either plain or, in case of multiple layers of BCs, it can be composed of the same frames as the upper parts, but fitted with mirrors, in order to increase the luminosity of the corridor(s) located in the lower level(s).
• the two vertical sides 32 of the angled front part 12 are either plain or fitted with mirrors, on their portion visible from inside.
• the corridor located 9 at an upper level, linking two BM in the typical F2F combination, is possibly covered with a transparent or translucent angled or rounded "roofing" 13.
• the extra width available in a BCT 10' allows its equipment with a dual "King Size” (i.e. 95cm or 3'2" wide) beds, thus leaving a very comfortable width of almost 1m (at bed level) for the passage 37.
• King Size i.e. 95cm or 3'2" wide
• a BCT 9' could be equipped with 3' (90cm) wide beds while leaving (at bed level) another 94cm for the passage 37.
• the said passage 37 leads to the "bathroom" 2, which is fitted with a large square, rounded or round window 14, to provide more natural light to the whole BC
• a door 44 communicating with the outside, centred on said window, may be foreseen as an option for some applications.
• the equipment of the bathroom is composed of toilets 15 on one side, a shower 25 on the centre and a full size ventilated cabinet 26 for clothes, accessible from the bathroom by a water-tight door.
• This cabinet for clothes can also be accessible from the bedroom, by a door at the head of the adjustable bed located on the same side.
• an articulated padded seat 16 covers the toilet bowl and extends all the width of the bathroom.
• a wash basin/sink 17 is located in the middle, under the window and a duckboard 33 extends over the shower section of the bathroom.
• That door or the window can be occulted by means of a curtain (or, for example, the window can be occulted by internal shutters covered possibly with articulated mirrors) to ensure the required privacy and/or darkness.
• the two beds 4 located on each side of the passage 37 are preferably of the BB type, adjustable and possibly motorized.
• twin BC design One other important point of the design of the twin BC design is the fact that these two beds can be made into a double bed 34 by moving them sideward, through a system of slides, rollers, a dual position cam, etc.
• This system allows also for the storage of sheets, quilts and pillows in the space 35 made accessible behind the beds when they are pulled out (or under the beds when they are lifted).
• the two extra beds/berths 5 are only 2m (i.e. approx. 67") long and narrow, from 75cm (i.e. approx. 2'5 1 /2") to possibly as low as 55cm (i.e. approx. V9V 2 ") at feet level 36 (in the BCT 8' version), which should not be a problem, since they will, most of the time, be used by children/teenagers.
• the main (wide) part 19 of each of these upper berths is foldable up 19b (to move it out of the way) or down 19a, to act as the back part of a sofa, together with the lower bed acting as the seating part.
• This means that the BC can then be used as a sitting room, with at least 2 people sitting comfortably on each side.
• a foldable table On each side a foldable table is fixed on the partition or the ceiling, and can be stowed away. It is designed so that it may be used by the occupant of the lower bed, or by the person(s) using the opposite lower bed as a sofa.
• various storage volumes 27 are available to store equipment of the accommodation capsule (such as the P/C, etc.) and the user's personal belongings.
• a single Accommodation Capsule is a BC with 1 bed (and possibly 1 additional berth) and a private bathroom, which will suit applications where individual occupancy is a must.
• a BCS 6' could be equipped with a 3' (90cm) wide bed while leaving (at bed level) another 76cm for the passage 37.
• These BCs can be factory produced and dispatched in modules of eight 5' Single, seven 5'8", or six 6'8" Single BCs pre-fitted in a 40' container frame (or respectively four 5' and three 6.8" BCSs in a 20' ISO container frame).
• a simple foldable table 38 is fitted on the partition opposite the bed.
• the bed or beds are lower 39, when in a fully extended position, and occupy the space 40 under the central corridor.
• the bed or beds should be preferably of a BB type, fully adjustable to a seating position (with the "bed” and “relax” configurations at ground level 39) and motorized
• the space so freed can allow for the implantation of additional storage space, compared to the standard BCs.
• a module fitted with "Compact” BCs cannot be located over a module fitted in a standard (not “Hi-Cube") ISO container frame.
• a standard not "Hi-Cube” ISO container frame.
• the description and functionalities of the "Compact” BC are very similar to those of a standard BC.
• a special bathroom Capsule can possibly be included in the BM and shared by all the BCs of that BM.
• the BMAS Bed (BB) (Fig. 21 to 39)
• a BMAS Bed is a specially designed bed apparatus, which can be fully converted to a chair, with all intermediate configurations suitable for relaxation.
• the BMAS Bed is a novel approach to the possibility of converting a bed to a chair (and the opposite), particularly useful in cases where the exiguity of a "bedroom” does not allow for both a bed and a chair, like in a BC.
• Present Motorized adjustable beds have a limitation in the angle achievable by the head elevation mechanism, mainly due to the fact that, when folded, too much length of the mattress accumulates at the base of the splat of the chair, (which by the way requires a blocking device at the bottom of the bed to prevent the mattress from slipping, unnecessary with the BB)
• the BB concept solves all these problems.
• a BB apparatus is a combination of several rigid articulated frames 64 65 66 67 (Fig. 21 to 24), the shape of which varies with its "deformation" to become a flat bed 58, a relax couch/sofa 59 or a straight chair 60, or even be set in a vertical position 61 (for example for storage).
• the bed height can either be fixed at a usual, standard level (of say 50cm) 62 (Fig. 18), i.e. in most cases and for example for a use in a standard BMAS capsule 4 (Fig. 3), or at a lower level, for example down to ground level 63 (Fig. 21 ) for the bed, which is required for example in the case of a BMAS "Compact" capsule 4 (Fig. 14).
• the relevant frames are fitted with specially designed "converters" 68 in lieu of the usual foundation slats.
• the rotation between the "Hard” and “Soft” positions 56 is done by pulling a cable 77 fixed on each "converter” of a row (Fig. 27) or, for example, by pushing or pulling a rigid bar linking each "converter” in that row.
• Each of the four sections of the apparatus 64 65 66 67 has the “converters” 68 set in “Hard” or “Soft” position, depending on the actual configuration of the apparatus.
• the converters 68 of the "(leg) Support” 64 and “Headrest” 67 sections are actually normally always in the "Soft” position (which means these 2 sections are possibly not equipped with “converters”).
• Those of the "Seat” 65 and “Back” 66 sections are in a “Hard” position when the apparatus is configured as a chair (Fig. 26) and in a “Soft” position when the apparatus is configured as a bed (Fig. 30) and can be either for the intermediate in-between Relax configurations (Fig. 27 to 29).
• the last "converter" 69 of the "Seat" section, next to the "(leg) Support” section could also be set permanently in the "Soft” position (i.e. including in the chair configuration) to increase comfort at the thigh-calf articulation.
• the distance 70 between “converters” 68 can be adjusted, to allow sufficient clearance between them, particularly when the height of the rigid profile is increased to give a "profile" to the mattress (in the chair/relax configuration) at a specific location such as under the thigh or the loin.
• the “converters” may be designed to be “stable”, i.e. they do not require any tension of the cable 77 neither to remain in the "hard” and “soft” position.
• the number of and the distance between the “converters” can also be adjusted to fit the dimension of the (typical) user.
• the contact surface between the converters and the mattress can be lined with a self-lubricating material to ease friction when the "converter" is switched between “Hard” and “Soft” positions.
• the configuration of the BB apparatus itself is determined by the position of an articulated frame, the main part of which, the "chair” frame 71, is fixed to the back part of the apparatus, and which stands vertically from the ground to the top of the headrest in the chair configuration.
• the apparatus is a bed. If it is vertical, the apparatus is a chair. In between, the apparatus is a relax armchair.
• the smaller part of the articulated frame is linking the base of the "chair” frame to the ("free") extremity of the "(leg) support” frame.
• the armrests, if any, fixed to that frame 71 and the seat frame 64 (and so guided to remain parallel to the seat section 65) are collapsible.
• the frame can be lifted higher to reach a vertical position 61, useful for leaning or as a stow-away position, suitable for example for cleaning .
• the top of that frame 71 can be designed in a way that it slides on a rail fixed vertically on the headboard and is fixed to a cable 73 running in that rail.
• That "chair" frame 71 is allowed to incline itself, by pulling the cable 73 down, and letting the bottom of the frame (and the smaller frame), fixed to a horizontal rail or on casters 74, distance itself from the base of the vertical headboard, preferably with the assistance of for example a spring to give the necessary starting impulse.
• FIG. 25 Another way, for example, of securing this positioning is through one "leg” 78 equipped with a caster, which can be fixed on each side of the "seat” frame, and another 80 at the articulation between the "seat” & “back” frames, in adequate positions, so as to keep the height of the "relax” and "bed” sections at the usual level.
• the chair can be motorized, preferably using only one electric motor, pulling on the cable 73 fixed on the back frame, with the cables 75 rotating the “converters” being activated through a sprocket (which is itself rotated when passing by the notch of a rack positioned adequately on the back wall).
• the bed can be motorized with the same kind of motorization used in standard electric beds to allow for an independent inclination of the back and headrest...
• BMAS Bed is not limited to the BMAS Capsules, but can have a much more universal appeal, not only whenever the exiguity of a "bedroom” does not allow for both a bed and a chair, but also, for example when there is a requirement for a bed to be transformed in a chair, such as for disabled people, in hospitals or at home.
• the chair can be mounted on wheels and freed from the cable fixed to the back frame to be able to use it as a normal wheel chair....
• Two BMs can be typically combined face-to-face (F2F), typically reaching a width of only 24' (7.3m), including the built-in central corridor (or lower in case of compact BCs and/or WPB)
• the F2F combination makes the best use of the specific multi-level configuration of the BCs, and particularly of the feature, which allows for a multiple width corridor between the BCs.
• the BCs of a BM and the BM themselves can be cleaned semi-automatically with the assistance of a semi-automatic cleaning system, or "Servant" (BS).
• BS semi-automatic cleaning system
• Each module will have a foldable trolley 20 running on a set of rails, which are next and parallel to those of the BCs sliding doors.
• This trolley which will be usable to carry luggage 21 , catering and/or other goods (like a usual hotel room cleaning trolley), will be stored in a folded position at the end of each BM.
• a single BS may also be used to service both sides of a face- to-face combination.
• This trolley 20 will also be used to carry the cleaning equipment 22, allowing an easy vacuum and wet cleaning of each BC.
• That cleaning equipment and its carrying trolley globally called the “Servant” (BS) will have one or more extendable (possibly “balanced”) arms 90, which will be entered into the BC to vacuum clean it thoroughly, to wet clean the bathroom, the window and all other "wet cleanable” surfaces, and possibly to sanitize/deodorize /perfume the bathroom.
• the degree of sophistication of the BS will depend of course on the type and sophistication of each project as well as on the number of BCs to be cleaned at one location.
• the BS could consist solely of a trolley carrying a vacuum cleaner, a high-pressure cleaner and a tank sprayer, with an "arm" 90 regrouping all the flexible hoses, which would help the staff clean the BCs faster and more thoroughly.
• the "Servant" could be more sophisticated, allowing the cleaning to be more automated. It could for example be equipped with a robotized arm programmable to clean semi-automatically all the (or the pre-selected) BCs of a module in a row before being moved to the next module or trolley, and so on.
• the BS will need to be operated by one person, and the role of the BS would be more to increase the productivity of the staff than to replace it.
• BCs and/or BMs on one or several levels, allows the speedy and easy construction of very compact, economical yet attractive, collective housing facilities such as "Observer Stand-alones”, “Shelters”, “Step combinations”, “Motels”, “Camps”, “Hotels Teen hostels”, “River cruisers/Floating hotels”, “Cruising catamarans”, etc... when complemented with the usual "shared facilities” or simply "integrated in a building".
• This additional storage can be located in a less accessible part of the housing facility, possibly next to a laundry (coin or staff operated), when applying.
• BMs do not need to be face-to-face (F2F). However, this combination offers most space-saving, at least for the larger structures.
• Such a BC could also be installed in someone's (existing or specially built) home or garden (as an "appendice” to the house or self standing), where it could be used as a bedroom/studio for visiting friends. It could also be built in as an integral part of a Mobile Home or attached to one.
• This BC would be tractable, thanks to removable wheels 102, and could be installed properly on a non-flat spot, thanks to adjustable legs 103.
• Access to the BC would be done from the back, which would be fitted with a door 44 (which would imply the moving of the sink out of the way) and a few steps.
• the cover 105 and the balcony 106 could be foldable when the "Observer" s not in use.
• the height of the BC could be that of a HiCube container, to allow for the deployment and storage of some equipment, such as foldable solar and rainwater collection panels 104, a satellite dish, etc.
• BCs would need to be manufactured and supplied as independent units, not in modules (but still deliverable on flat bed trucks).
• the idea is to use a 20' HiCube ISO container 107 to house an "extended" 8' twin BC, i.e. to which approximately 2' in depth have been added to allow for additional storage 108.
• This system would further allow for two large storage and equipment holds.
• the first one 110 is located (and accessible) under the floor of the above mentioned “front room”, i.e. still within the 20' ISO container, and is therefore protected from outsiders or outside agents. It will therefore be used for all vital storage and equipment.
• the second one 111, located on top of the BC, is less protected since it is accessible only from outside and will therefore be used only for non-vital storage & equipment.
• These Shelters can possibly be fitted with an additional cover 112 adjoining the "front room” and be connected to each other and share their "front rooms”.
• the BMAS concept can of course be used to build other types and sizes of shelters.
• an F2F combination based on a "HiCube” ISO 40' container frame, with a steel back and face of the module, possibly equipped with smaller bulletproof windows facing the outside, would make a BM based facility, equipped with "Twin” or “Single” BCs most suitable as barracks for the military, or as cells for inmates, or as a "bomb” shelter, particularly when buried underground.
• BC combinations could also open other uses for other BM based facilities, such as the "Step” or Terrace type combination, whereby each BC uses the top (roof) of the one below as a terrace 113, as shown in the attached illustration.
• Extra storage space 114 would be available under each BC.
• a BMAS Motel is one of the most basic collective housing facility, which can installed and operational in a matter of a very few hours (on a leveled ground).
• a most simple example uses an F2F combination 115 of 2 BMs i.e. a total of 8 or 10 twin BCs, housing up to 40 persons, coupled at one extremity with a 40'
• “technical module” 116 positioned (on legs/jacks) at a higher level than the ground and which can house a “reception” and/or shared kitchen, cafeteria, storage, vending machines, as well as the A/C or ventilation system feeding a duct 120 over the corridor.
• the access to (and from) the individual BCs can be done either, at ground level, through the (back) door 44 and the bathroom 2, or (if and when allowed by the management of the motel) through one extremity of the corridor, after going up a few steps from the ground level, or through the other extremity, after going down a few steps 117 from the raised floor of the "technical" module.
• Access to that raised floor from the ground level can be done by (foldable) stairs located either 119 on one side of the "Technical module” 116 or inside that module, where other stairs can also lead to a "terrace” 121 i.e. on the top of the "technical module".
• a canopy 118 runs on each side of the F2F combination, to provide a covered area for the loading and unloading of the clients' vehicle.
• the BMAS Camp is actually a combination of BCs, on s single level, with four F2F BM combinations 115, representing a capacity of a total of 32 to 40 twin BCs, i.e. a maximum housing capacity of up to 160 persons.
• these four F2f BM combinations 115 are connected on one side to two 40' container modules (one on top of the other) housing the "shared facilities", giving a construction spreading on only 88'x 52' (26.7m x 17m), i.e. 4'600 sqft (450 sqm).
• the upper 40' container 116a, connecting the 4 BM F2F combinations could house some of the shared facilities, such as a cafeteria, a kitchen, a reception, vending machines, etc., which are usually housed in other buildings, and its top could be used as terrace 121.
• a Canopy 122 extends on both sides of that container, housing a balcony 123 as well as some (emergency) stairs. And another canopy 127 extends at one or both free ends of the F2F Module combinations to cover vehicles of the guests of the camp.
• the lower container 116b or "Technical module” could house all the technical machinery & equipment necessary to provide to all the camp the required heating, hot & cold water supply, electricity, waste water treatment, LAN & satellite TV in- feed, etc. as well as the A/C or ventilation system feeding a duct 120 over the corridor. It could also house a laundry as well as internal stairs linking to the upper container level.
• Technical passages 128, running under the passages linking the BCs, at the same level as the lower container ("Technical module") 116b, allows an easy access to the volumes 124 located under the BCs, which can be used as storage (for water, fuel, waste water, etc.) as well as for foodstuff, extra personal storage for the camp users, technical equipment, etc.
• a working space 125 which can be used for example as a "greenhouse", is created between two F2F combinations, by adding a glass cover.
• angled roof at least partially made of glass installed over the BCs corridors could be avoided in case the BM modules are based on "HiCube" containers.
• Hotels or Teen hostels built with the BMAS should particularly be attractive to the business or student traveller who merely wants a bed to sleep, like in the "cheap" hotels of the known low-end chain.
• the 4 middle floors would consist of three F2F 40' BM combinations 115, i.e. a total of 96 to 120 twin BCs.
• Extra personal storage 135 for the guests is made available on each floor.
• the top floor, accessible through lifts 134 is housing a panoramic bar and restaurant 131, with their relevant kitchen and bathrooms, as well as a terrace 121 on top and around it.
• the BMAS is particularly suitable to equip Cruise vessels, where available space is scarce, allowing one to use the saved space to make more "shared facilities" available to the cruising guests.
• the BMAS is also of course very suitable for the construction of mono-hull Cruisers of a minimum width of 24' (7.3m), i.e. based on the typical F2F BCs combination (so that the design is symetric).
• the total number of passengers would be 18 to 36, (depending on the occupancy), representing five 8' Twin BCs for the crew and for example four 10' Twin BCs for the skipper and for the guests.
• Riverboats which must be, by design, long and narrow.
• F2F BM combinations i.e. for example, ten 8' Twin and forty 10' Twin BCs in total, housing a total of 100 passengers, i.e. 20 crew and 80 guests (based on double occupancy), i.e. double the capacity of a traditional River Cruiser of the same size!
• the BMAS concept can naturally be applied to larger Riverboats, such as those touring the Danube river, which have a LOA in the 350 to 400' range (100 to 120m) and a beam of 50 to 75' (15 to 23m), which typically accommodate a crew of 75 caring for 200 guests.
• the same internal volume could accommodate again, based on the BMAS concept, at least 600 passengers, i.e. 120 crew and 480 guests, in sixty 8' twin and two hundred forty 10' twin BCs, based on double occupancy, and even more generous shared facilities.
• the BMAS concept is of course suitable as private (sleeping) quarters for the largest vessels...
• the BMAS "Cruising Catamaran” is a project aimed at making cruising cheaper, thereby bringing to the cruising industry a whole new layer of customers, specially the less affluent, younger generation and their kids, who would like to go on a cruise for holidays but could not afford it so far.
• small private quarters allow also the combination of several private quarters in a limited volume, hence the possibility of lodging a large number of people in a small volume.
• the intermediate 9' twin BC would be the recommended size for the larger BMAS cruising catamaran, since it allows for a 4' space at the end of each BM, which could house all the machinery and equipment, such as the A/C, relating to the whole BM.
• the relatively small cabin size should definitely not be seen as a handicap by cruise customers, whatever their age, specially in view of the marine environment and the fact that they will stay only a few days or weeks on board and spend less of their non-sleeping time outside their cabins than inside.
• two "BMAS Modules” are usually separated lengthwise by a space 150 of approx 8' (2.4m) not only to allow for the eventual positioning of lifts 134, a side entrance or only a view point with balcony, but also for safety reasons, such as the implantation of fireproof doors and stairs and boat emergency exits.
• each hull which is fitted with the usual crushable and floating volumes, and the front half 154 can be used as an additional lockable storage and cloakroom for each BC, while the aft half 155 of the lower level of each hull would usually be dedicated to the ship machinery, equipment, tanks, etc.... as well as crew facilities.
• the "shared area per guest” ratio is rather high with the BMAS cruising catamarans, where a 10 to 15sqm per guest ratio is obtained. This allows for some very complete “shared facilities", as outlined hereafter, more than compensating for the relative exiguity of the BCs (cabins).
• the type and size of a BMAS cruising catamaran depends essentially on the required passenger capacity and width (beam) of each hull.
• the BMAS system is indeed particularly suitable to design cruise catamarans, thanks to the limited width of the BCs (and, particularly for the larger catamarans, of their face-to-face (F2F) combinations).
• a BM is a mixture of 8' & 9' or 10' twin BCs
• the 8' twin cabins which would usually be affected only to the crew, could be separated from the 9' or 10' twin guest cabins by a (fireproof) partition equipped with a door, which could also be fitted between the modules.
• a 80' BMAS Cruising catamaran (Fig. 71 to 76) holding 2 40' BMs, which we recommend to be equipped solely with 8' twin BCs. This would make it an ideal proposal for a crew of 4 or 6, taking care (respectively) of 16 or 14 guests, for charter, floating classroom, live-aboard, etc.
• a 140' BMAS cruising catamaran holding 840' BMs, making it an adequate proposal for a crew of 20 (housed in 8' twin BCs), taking care of 48 paying passengers (housed in more spacious 10' twin BCs), for example for a mini-cruise, a live-aboard for scuba diving, fishing, etc.
• a 240' BMAS cruising catamaran (Fig. 77 to 86) holding 52 40' BMs, making it suitable for a crew of 120 (housed in 8' twin BCs) taking care of 320 paying passengers (housed for example in more spacious 9' twin BCs), for a cruise, or as a floating university, a Floating resort, etc.
• the space between the skin of the BM containers and the BCs would be filled with adequate (closed cell) foam, possibly pre-formed or injected in-situ ensuring not only the proper sound insulation of the BCs but also the floatability/un-sinkability of the whole Cruising Catamaran
• the larger Cruising Catamarans can offer, in addition to the extra storage facilities for the guests, a Shop with Vending/Ice machines, Several (2 or 3) Dining/Meeting/Living areas indoor plus Outdoor "cafe” and barbecue, a Bar/Piano/Discotheque, passenger lounges, Intranet/Cable and Home Cinema/Entertainment, Infirmary, etc.
• Each cabin will be equipped with one PC (possibly multi-user/thin client), connected to a LAN, allowing access to the internet (whenever a reasonably priced connection is available) and to the ship's intranet, hosted in a powerful server located in the Skipper's office.
• An additional LAN connection in each cabin will allow the passengers to connect their own PC/portable or to connect another PC in each cabin (for youngsters on a long stay).
• the ship will also be equipped with Webcams located at various "strategic" points, outside and inside, not only to allow and learn navigation "by instruments” from any PC of the LAN, but also, combined with handheld video cameras, to allow professionals or the passengers themselves to edit a video of their stay.
• This room 151 of approx 45 sqm at floor level but 70 sqm at elbow/eye level, where it counts (Thanks to the BMAS concept), is the "compensation" for the relative exiguity of the BCs.
• the central point of the vessel it be used as a room as a classroom for 24 students 151a, dining for 36 guests 151b, living, fitness & dancing 151c, show with stage for 36 persons 151d, (home) cinema or conference for 36 persons 151e, table tennis 151e, games and other sport, cultural, entertainment and social activities and performances, as shown on the attached sketch, thanks to tables (which can be stowed away on sliding rails) and stackable chairs.
• All the ship's machinery is housed in one 40' ISO container frame 152 ("technical module") linking the two BMs, and therefore ensuring a stiff connection between the two hulls.
• This module will include the two Diesel generators, the hydraulic power system, the air compressor (for diving bottles), the water makers, the Central A/C, the kitchen cookers, oven and washing machines, an ice-maker, the machinery for the Jacuzzi 158 situated on top and all the other machinery and instrumentation required to operate the ship.
• the technical module will also house the "Skipper's office” 157, which will include the navigation instruments, the computer server and network and the central electrical control panel.
• All the ship's machinery is housed in 40' ISO container frames 152 linking the BMs, and therefore ensuring a stiff connection between the two hulls.
• These frames can be either standard or the higher hi-cube types, depending on the ceiling height required for the corresponding decks.
• These technical modules will include the Diesel motors and generators, the hydraulic power system, the air compressor (for diving bottles), the water makers, the Central A/C, the kitchen cookers, oven and washing machines, the ice- maker(s), the machinery for the Jacuzzi(s) and the eventual pool and, more generally, all the other machinery and instrumentation required to operate the ship.
• the passengers of a BMAS 240' cruising catamaran can enjoy/learn flying and aerial exploration, thanks to its design as THE FIRST CIVILIAN ULTRA-LIGHT AIRCRAFT CARRIER, with a 200760m long runway 162, allowing the landing and take-off of gyroplanes and other VSTOL ultra-light aircrafts (and non-VSTOL ultralights, if a simplified catapult and arresting cable system are installed).
• the median runway covered with a heavy-duty artificial tennis-court type surface on most of its length (i.e.154747m), is constituted for the balance by a 1 '4740cm deep sand pit 163.
• This pit is intended to slow down and hopefully stop any aircraft landing too long, which would then anyway be prevented from falling at the end of the runway by an inclined safety net 164.
• This pit can be protected with a canvas cover when needed, i.e. for example when the weather gets too bad.
• the runway can be used at any time when no other activities are performed on the upper deck, even when the Cruising Catamaran is cruising.
• the runway may be partially obstructed by the sails of the Balestron rigs 161 at certain points of sail, in which case the obstructing sail(s) can temporarily be redirected or furled.
• This flying capacity can be supplemented with seaplanes, which can be hoisted to and from the Water-sports deck and stored into the Garage and Workshop 165 and/or with a helicopter, which can land and take off from a landing pad 166, which so positioned as to be usable whatever the direction of the wind and position of the Balestron rig booms.
• seaplanes and/or the helicopter can be used to ferry passengers to and from shore locations and as rescue crafts to recover ultra-lights aircrafts experiencing difficulties.
• the Ultra-light aircrafts When not in use, the Ultra-light aircrafts can be lowered to the Water-sports deck with the lift 167 located on the aft starboard side of the vessel and then stored in the Garage & Workshop. That same lift will be used to lift seaplanes from the water level.
• the BMAS Cruising Catamaran 240' is equipped with two unsinkable/self bailing tenders 168, up to 40712m long, each capable of ferrying at high speed at least 50 seating passengers.
• the vessel will hold in its garage a number of bicycles, and possibly some scooters, to enable touring of shore locations.
• the same garage 165 will hold a couple of four-wheel drive vehicles, which can be landed, with the help of the lift located on the aft starboard side of the vessel, either directly to the shore when the Cruising Catamaran is alongside a quay, or otherwise via a specially designed landing craft.
• the BMAS Cruising Catamaran 240' has been designed to satisfy the most demanding fisherman, as well as the beginner.
• One retractable fishing platform 169 on each side, each fitted with 3 seats, allows for game fishing while the boat is cruising, while fish spotting can be performed from the look-out mast 170 located on the right hull or the look-out post 171 located on the main mast.
• Game fishing can also performed from the large tenders located at the front, which can in such a case be equipped with a flying bridge.
• the Cruising Catamaran can be equipped with a trawl net spread between the hulls.
• the Cruising Catamaran will be equipped with all the equipment needed to practice their sport and one or more instructors will be available.
• Windsurfs, sail dinghies and catamarans, kayaks and canoes will be stored in the water-sports deck and adjoining Garage & Workshop, and made available for beginners and experienced sailors, under supervision of a sailing instructor using the smaller tender berthed at the aft, by a frame fixed on the taillift/liftgate 172.
• the Cruising Catamaran is equipped with a large, shark-free, enclosed swimming area 174 , located in-between the hulls (which also provide a relative protection from outside waves).
• This "pool” 174 covering an area of approx 130740m by 65720m, can be folded and stored under the ceiling of the tunnel between the hulls when the vessel is cruising.
• the foldable side platforms of the pool 174 will be equipped with stairs to go in and out of the water as well as with fresh water showers as well as a booth for the swimming instructor(s). Tennis:
• a full-size Tennis-court 175 is available on the central area of the top deck.
• the 1073m high fence and net curtain surrounding the tennis (and basketball) court will be fine enough to keep most balls on the court during play.
• the Cruising Catamaran is equipped with a full-size beach-volley court 176, with a V1/3 /40cm deep sand surface, as required by the rules of the relevant international federation.
• the sand pit 163 of the Beach-volley court can also be used as the landing area for long and high jumps, and even for triple jump. - Golf practice:
• a couple (or more) Golf-practice nets 1 7 can be located on the upper deck, so as to be usable at any time by the "golf addicts" will not want to miss such an occasion to practice their swing.
• a full-size (AAU) Basketball court 178 is available on the central area of the top deck.
• a 1073m high fence is running on each side of the court to prevent the ball from falling on the lower decks.
• the stern of the BMAS Cruising Catamaran is fitted as an artificial climbing wall 179.
• Sunbathing may be performed on many locations on the BMAS Cruising Catamaran 240'.
• At least 2 Jacuzzis 182 will be available for the guests, for example next to the swimming pool.
• the BC would probably not need to be equipped with a separate WC and bathroom, i.e. could be a BC WPB, and the entrance to the BC could be done through a back door 184, which could be integrated in a wall-to-wall cabinet 185 so as not to affect adversely the decoration of the house.
• the BCs angled front part would protrude outside the facade of the building, possibly linking to a balcony or a terrace.
• the BMAS concept can be used whenever there is a need for an economical, prefabricated (and possibly fast- implemented) collective housing facility, i.e. not only to build economical camps, ships or hotels, but also students housing projects, holiday bungalows, etc...
• BC concept could be expanded in the field of land (road & rail) and even aerial transportation, i.e. where the size and weight of the capsule are paramount, and where passengers do not stay usually for more than one night.
• the design of the BC i.e. without bathroom
• BMAS concept can be used for other purposes than collective housing:
• another field of application would be the use of BCs as simulators or stimulators, for various tuition or demonstration purposes, in which case they would be loaded with state of the art electronics and could even be articulated on a motion platform...
• BMAS Modular Accommodation System
• BCs & BMs can be industrially produced in a factory, which can be located virtually anywhere, as long as it has road or rail access (i.e. ISO container handling capacity).
• the BCs can be factory produced and dispatched in BM modules of four 10' Twin, or five 8' Twin, or eight 5' Single, or seven 5'8", or six 6'8" Single BCs (or a combination thereof) pre-fitted in a 40' container frame (or two 10' Twin, or four 5' Single, or six 6'8" Single BCs (or a combination thereof) in a 20' frame).
• Each of these BCs is basically a box, constituted, for example, by two interlocking "shells" 41 43 and a front part 7.
• the lower (bottom) shell 41 typically made of self-extinguishing (clear or white tainted) polyester resin with reinforced fibreglass (GRP), possibly using the injection process, would constitute the floor of the living quarters up to the bed's height and the floor and partitions of the bathroom up to the ceiling's height.
• GRP reinforced fibreglass
• the upper (top) shell 43 would interlock with the lower one and form the upper part of the box, i.e. the external partitions and the ceiling of the living quarters.
• This upper shell, the internal partitions, the bottom and (possibly the) side panels of the front part as well as all the cabinetry would be made of (black or dark coloured) marine plywood and/or and lightweight PVC boards, such as Komacel/Forex, or composite panels, such as MarineCell /BalsaMarine.
• the other panels of the front part 7 would be constituted of preferably soundproofed glass framed by a specially designed aluminium frame with built-in sliding rails.
• the Accommodation Capsules would also be fitted with silent blocks and externally with flexible foam, such as Airex/Stopflam/Tansonic, and/or pre-formed rigid foam, for sound/vibration and thermal insulation).
• flexible foam such as Airex/Stopflam/Tansonic, and/or pre-formed rigid foam, for sound/vibration and thermal insulation.
• the BM container modules can also be produced in an industrial manner, pre- furbished, with pipes and cables 28 pre-installed.
• the container's outside external "skin" 29, pre-fitted with thermal insulation and the windows 14, is fastened to or welded onto (usually the back, top and small ends of) the container frame 3.
• the ISO container frames 3 and the skin 29 can be made of steel or (possibly thick-plate) aluminium alloys, depending on the importance of the weight factor, as well as the required resistance to/and the corrosion exposure.
• Each Accommodation Module has single inlet/outlet points for electricity, telecom/network (LAN/ Internet & Intranet), cable TV, hot and cold water, fire- fighting circuits and fluids, heating and cooling fluids or A/C inlet (if/when applying), as well as the required ventilation outlet and wastewater outlet, so that the various modules can be assembled and connected together without much connection work.
• the BCs could be delivered un-complete, particularly regarding the electronic equipment, and could be finished at a local assembly point or on the erection site, where the Accommodation Modules could then be completed and fastened or welded together to become part of a chosen BMAS application.
• BCs can be based on entire BMs of twin or single BCs, fitted in a 40' ISO container frame.
• the BMs could also be 20' or 40' container frames housing a combination of various types of BCs and even BCs WPB (with or without a shared bathroom capsule).
• the BS would be composed primarily of a trolley carrying a vacuum cleaner, a water-pressure cleaner and possibly a tank sprayer, with an "arm" 90 regrouping all the flexible hoses.
• This "arm” 90 which should extend to at least 3m to be able to reach any location in the BC, would be retractable on the trolley, possibly through a simple pulley fitted with a counter-weight.
• the electrical supply to this cleaning equipment could be possibly be done, preferably at low voltage for safety reasons, through the set of rails of the trolley or simply by a (spooled) cable connected to an outlet located at one end or in the middle of the BM.
• the end of the "arm” could possibly be fitted with a "command handle” regrouping the switches commanding the different machines and could also be fitted with an electrical projector flooding with light the location being cleaned.
• the "Servant" could be more sophisticated, allowing the cleaning to be more automated.
• the "arm" and the trolley could for example be motorized/robotized and programmable to clean semi-automatically all the (or the pre-selected) BCs of a module in a row before being moved to the next module or trolley, and so on.
• the BMAS applications which would normally be built of aluminium or steel alloys (at least for the larger models), could be at least pre-constructed in the factory(ies) producing the BMs and the technical modules, which could itself be located virtually anywhere (accessible to ISO containers).
• the similar 40' BMs 156 (and possibly 20') or their F2F combinations 115 could be produced in an industrial manner, pre-furbished, with pipes and cables pre- installed and the outside external "skin" at the back (pre-fitted with "marine” windows, if/when applying) and possibly at the top and on the sides welded on the container frame, which could be used as a structural part of the application.
• BMAS catamarans could actually be sold to amateur builders or smaller yards as semi-prefabricated "kits", with all elements cut and formed by the licensed yard(s) and shipped in containers, to be welded and assembled locally.
• the yard(s) licensed by the BMAS licensor could actually supply not only these aluminium elements but also the container modules, as well as the spars and rigging, together with the technical supervision for the assembly/construction and certification.

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• 2003
  • 2003-04-04 US US10/508,986 patent/US20050150175A1/en not_active Abandoned
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  • 2003-04-04 AU AU2003215489A patent/AU2003215489A1/en not_active Abandoned
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