GB2231895A

GB2231895A - Foldable transportable cabin

Info

Publication number: GB2231895A
Application number: GB9008628A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter David Baxter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-04-18
Filing date: 1990-04-17
Publication date: 1990-11-28
Also published as: GB9008628D0; GB8908767D0

Abstract

A foldable transportable cabin comprises a square base 1, mounted on wheels 2 for towing, and with a plurality of panels 11-26 connected each to others to provide a continuous wall with no beginning or end. This assembly of panels can be folded into the volume over the base, or unfolded to provide side and end walls enclosing an area three times that of the base. Further panels 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are provided, secured by clamps 8, which form a shell enclosing the folded assembly, or can be dismounted to form an extended floor (3 and 4) and roof (5, 6 and 7) for the extended cabin. <IMAGE>

Description

Foldable Transportable Cabin This invention relates to a foldable transportable cabin.

Transportable cabins, which can be moved from site to site to provide temporary accomodation for offices, rest facilities etc. on building and other sites, are generally of two types. The first type is a completely assembled unit which has to be transported on a trailer of length corresponding to that of the cabin, and requires a crane for unloading and reloading after use. The other type is knocked down into constituent parts, and the parts assembled on site. This latter type is inconvenient simply due to the assembly and dismantling required before and after each period of use at a given site.

An object of the invention is to provide a portable cabin structure which can be quickly made ready for use or transportation, yet does not require to be bodily lifted from a trailer or other load carriers, and on the other hand does not require to be completely assembled or dismantled piece by piece.

According to the invention, a foldable transportable cabin comprises a base, mounted so as to be transportable, and panel members defining side and end walls of the cabin, adapted to be folded into the area above the base, and to be unfolded to surround an area greater than the area of the base.

The panel members may each be connected to another panel member one to each side thereof, to form a continuous series of panel memers, with no beginning or end.

Preferrably, opposed further panel members provide side members for the folded cabin, and can be unfolded one at each side of the base, to form an extended cabin floor with the base which corresponds in area to the area enclosed by the unfolded first panel members.

Preferrably another pair of opposed further panel members provide further side wall members for the folded cabin, can be dismounted, and with a yet further panel member which forms a covering top for the folded cabin, and form a roof for the unfolded cabin.

The two pairs of further panels, and the yet further panel may form an outer skin for the folded cabin, which encloses the first mentioned panel members.

The dimensions may be such that the floor area of the unfolded cabin is about three times the area of the base of the folded cabin, which may be mounted on a chassis, and provided with towing attachments.

The panel members preferrably are connected each to at least one adjacent panel member by a hinge assembly, and may in the folded state be folded so that some of the panels extend along the sides of the base, and others extend over the base along longitudinal and transverse bisection lines, so that the volume over the base is subdivided into four volumes enclosed by the panels.

There may be sixteen panel members, connected into a continuous wall, each of a length half that of a side of the base, a side of the folded panels being constituted by two panels, with two panels between them forming a fold extending inwards over the base along the bisecting line of the respective side.

The further panels, which in the folded state of the cabin enclose the first mentioned panel members, may be secured by clamps which may be opened to release the further panels. the wall panels may be secured in the alternative folded and extended positions by clamps which can be released for opening out and folding in of the wall panels.

The respective further panels which form the extended floor preferrably are provided with legs or props which can be folded flat against the panels in a stowed position, and extended in use of the panel as a floor section, to provide supports which hold the panel clear above the ground, raising it to the level of the base. The legs may be adjustable in length for leveling of the floor assembly.

The walls of the extended cabin may comprise two of the panels in each end wall, and six of the panels in each side wall. Certain of the panels may be adapted to provide doors or windows respectively, and provision may be made in one or more wall or floor panels for access of services such as electricity, telephone, water and/or sanitation depending on the intended function of the particular cabin.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a transportable folding cabin according to the invention, completely folded and ready for transportation or as delivered to a site ready for erection; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a first stage of opening out the cabin; Fig. 3 is a similar view of a further stage in opened ing out the cabin; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a yet later stage in the opening out of the cabin; and Fig. 5 is aside elevation of the fully opened out cabin.

A foldable transportable cabin according to the invention comprises a base 1 which is square in plan, with sides e.g. about 6 feet, or 2 metres, in length. The base 1 is mounted on an axle bearing wheels 2, so that the folded cabin can be moved from one site to another by being towed as a trailer. The folded cabin has an outer skin cprised by end panels 3 and 4, side panels 5 and 6 and a top panel 7.

The panels forming the outer skin are connected by removable clamps 8 along their abutting edges. Fig. 2 shows the removal of the outer skin, with the end panels 3 and 4 being placed as parts of an extended floor, at either end of the base 1, with legs 9 which are folded against the respective panel in the stowed position (Fig. 1) and can be extended to support the panels 3 and 4 above the ground, and are adjustable, so that the whole resulting floor can be leveled.

The side panels 5 and 6 and top panel 7 are at this stage released and removed, and will be assembled to form a roof for the extended cabin (Figs. 4 and 5).

Removal of the outer skin provided by the panels 3,4,5,6 and 7 reveals a plurality of panels 11-26, sixteen in number, each 3feet by 6 feet, which are each connected by an edge hinge at each vertical edge to an adjacent panel, forming a continuous series of panels with no beginning or end. In the stowed position, best seen in Fig. 3, the panels are arranged four over each edge of the base, with two extending along the edge of the base, and connected at a corner of the base to a similarly disposed panel on the adjacent edge of the base, with a pair of the panels forming a fold or pleat which extends into the area over the base, along a line bisecting the respective the respective side.

The effect of this is to divide the volume over the base into four volumes separated by pairs of panels in the pleats.

Fig. 4 also shows the panels 3 and 4 assembled to complete a floor with the base 1.

To open out the folded panels 11-26, the panels 11 and 14 facing the right hand end of the base (in Fig. 3) are pulled out, as indicated by arrows A, after disengaging the clamps 27 engaging the panels to the base. The panels 12, 13 between them, in the pleat, are opened out and form an end wall, which is then moved to the end of the floor panel 4 by opening out the pleats in the sides of the folded panel assembly, and the same procedure is followed at the other end.

The opened out panels form end walls with a two-panel frontage, panels 12, 13 and 20, 21; and side walls with a six panel frontage. An intermediary stage in the unfolding of the panel assembly is shown in Fig. 4.

The clamps 27 are then re-engaged to secure the panels to the edges of the extended floor. The roof panels 5, 6 and 7 are then put in place and secured by the clamps 8.

As shown in Fig. 5, certain of the wall panels, such as 14, 18 19 are adapted to provide windows 28, or such as 15, to provide doors 29.

The floor or wall panels may provide inlets for services, such as electrical supply, telephone, water, sanitation, etc. as required.

A foldable transportable cabin as described can be quickly opened out or folded up as required, more quickly than if the cabin is provided completely disassembled into separate components, and more conveniently than if a fully assembled cabin is brought to a site on a long trailer and has to be loaded or unloaded by crane.

The cabin can be used as a site office, rest or sleeping or canteen accommodation for civil engineering or other sites, and may have use as a temporary or field headquarters for military or police use; as a mobile clinic, and any other use where a fully transportable cabin which can be made ready quickly and moved on when needed may be of use.

As it is compact when fully folded, the cabin may be air or sea lifted in support of military or releif operations.

Claims

1. A foldable transportable cabin comprising a base, mounted so as to be transportable, and panel members defining side and end walls of the cabin, adapted to be folded into the space above the base, and to be unfolded to surround an area greater than the area of the base.

2. A cabin according to Claim 1 wherein a pair of opposed further panel members provide side members for the folded cabin, and can be dismounted to form, one at each end of the base, an extended cabin floor with the base, said floor corresponding in area to the area enclosed by the first above mentioned panel members when unfolded.

3. A cabin according to Claim 2 wherein another pair of opposed further panel members provide further side wall members for the folded cabin which can be dismounted and with a yet further panel member which forms a covering top for the folded cabin, form a roof for the unfolded cabin.

4. A cabin according to Claim 3 wherein the two pairs of further panels and the yet further panel form an outer skin for the folded cabin, which encloses the first panel members.

5. A cabin according to any preceding Claim, wherein the floor area of the unfolded cabin is about three times the area of the base of the folded cabin.

6. A cabin according to any preceding Claim wherein the panel members are connected each to at least one adjacent panel member by a hinge assembly, and in the folded state are folded so that some of the panels extend along the edges of the base, and others extend over the base along longitudinal and transverse bisection lines, so that the volume over the base is subdivided into four volumes enclosed by the panels.

7. A cabin according to Claim 6, wherein there are sixteen panel members, connected into a continuous wall, each panel being of a length half that of a side of the base, a side of the folded panel assembly being constituted by two panels , with two panels between them forming a pleat extending along the bisecting line of the respective side inwards over the base.

8. A cabin according to Claim 3 or any Claim appendant thereto wherein the further panels are secured by clamps which may be released to release the further panels.

9. A cabin according to Claim 2 or any Claim appendant thereto wherein legs are provided on said first pair of further panels which can be folded flat against the panels in a stowed position, and extended in use of the panels as floor sections, to provide supports which hold the panel clear above the ground, raising it to the level of the base.

10. A cabin according to Claim 9 wherein the legs are adjustable in length for leveling of the floor assembly.

11. A cabin according to Claim 7 wherein the walls of the cabin when extended comprise end walls each of two panels, and side walls each of six panels.

12. A cabin according to Claim 11 wherein certain of the panels are adapted to provide doors or windows respectively.

13. A cabin according to any preceding Claim, wherein provision is made in one or more wall panels or floor panels for access of services such as electricity, water, telephone and/or sanitation depending on the intended function of the particular cabin.

14. A foldable transportable cabin substantially as hereinbefore describe, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.