GB2225358A

GB2225358A - Portable foldable shelter

Info

Publication number: GB2225358A
Application number: GB8826190A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nisar Sayed
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-06-04
Filing date: 1988-11-09
Publication date: 1990-05-30
Also published as: GB8826190D0

Abstract

A collapsible accommodation unit which is transportable and lightweight in construction so that it can be erected quickly and easily to provide semi-permanent relief accommodation. The unit comprises a floor (10), a roof (11), a first pair of opposed folding side walls (12) hinged to the floor and to the roof, and a further pair of side walls (13) hinged to opposite ends respectively of the floor (10). The unit may be raised from a flat collapsed condition to its fully erected condition very quickly requiring neither tools nor skilled personnel. Rigidity and weatherproofing are ensured by an open-bottom box formation of the roof (11) and by inter-engaging members (22, 33) at the side edges of the walls (12, 13).

Description

COUCPSIBLE AND FOLDING ACCOMMODATION UNIT This invention relates to an accommodation unit and, more particularly, to a collapsible and folding accommodation unit that can be erected quickly and easily to provide semi-permanent accommodation for example in disaster areas where more conventional habitation is not available.

It is known for the survivors of disasters involving the destruction of homes to be temporarily housed under canvas. There is however a need for a more permanent kind of accommodation unit which will make possible the resumption of normal living standards without awaiting a full rebuilding programme.

According to the present invention there is provided a knock-down accommodation unit comprising a floor, side walls and a flat roof with a depending rim providing an open-bottomed box in which the floor and side walls are stowed in the collapsed unit and which imparts dimensional stability to the erected unit.

The roof and floor are preferably interconnected by two opposed side walls each having a transverse fold-line enabling the wall to fold between the roof and the floor.

One embodiment of accommodation unit in accordance with the invention is illustrated in the accompanying informal drawings, in which: Figs. 1 to 4 illustrate stages in the erection of the unit; Fig. 5 shows a plurality of units combined to form a multiple room single storey house, and Fig. 6 is an artist's impression of the house shown in plan in Fig. 5.

The exemplary accommodation unit comprises a square roof and floor of approximately equal size interconnected by four side walls. A front side wall has a door opening therein and the opposite or rear side wall has a window opening (see Fig. 5). The front and rear side walls are permanently pivotally connected by their bottom edges to the front and rear edges respectively of the floor. In the collapsed condition of the unit these two walls lie flat on the floor as shown in Fig. 2. The remaining pair of side walls is permanently hinged to the floor and roof and each of these side walls has a central fold enabling the wall to fold inwardly between the floor and the roof as shown in Fig. 2.

The roof has a depending rim extending continuously around the periphery thereof. The roof thus has the form of a flat, open-bottomed box. The top edges of the two blank side walls are hinged to the roof internally of the rim.

The floor, roof and side walls are preferably made of heat-insulating material, e.g. a laminate comprising outer skins of glass-reinforced plastics or metal and an intermediate layer of closed cell foam material. The hinges between the various components may be formed in any desired way e.g. by the use of polypropylene or piamo metal strip.

For erection the unit is located on a level site while still in the knocked-down condition and with the roof uppermost (Fig. 1). The roof is then lifted away from the floor thereby unfolding the blank side walls (Fig. 2). The front and rear side walls are then raised into position (Fig. 3). The top edges of the front and rear side walls abut the inner surface of the roof rim and are fastened thereto by any suitable means e.g. studs and wingnuts.

The dimensional stability of the erected unit is due mainly to the structural rigidity of the roof box.

This roof construction has the additional advantages of providing for proper water run-off from the flat roof thereby avoiding leakage between the roof and the side walls. The roof rim is also useful in the mutual location and fixing of like accommodation units to form .a modular design as shown in Fig. 5.

In addition the roof box plays an important function in the collapsed condition of the unit. Thus, it also provides stowage space for the other components of the unit.

Guyropes (not shown) may also be provided to anchor the accommodation unit to the site.

Special clips are fixed to the edge of the collapsed unit to hold the components securely together. There is an additional advantage that the ropes will provide hand-holds on the collapsed unit which may be useful during transport.

Claims

CLAIM

An accommodation unit, made up of a series of light-weight panels, hinged in such a manner that the unit may be folded down into a compact, easily transportable form and allowing for a number of units to be easily stacked one on top of another. The units can be immediately re-erected without the use of tools or additional unattached parts.