GB2250305A - Portable, collapsible building - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable and collapsible building comprises a plurality of panels joined in such a way as to form a rigid structure when erect and to fold flat when dismantled. The wall panels have upper and lower halves hinged together at 10 so that, when erected, the lower edge of the upper half overlaps the upper edge of the lower half. <IMAGE>

Description

A READILY PORTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE BUILDING This invention relates to a readilv portable and collapsible building.

There are many types of portable building and collapsible shelter.

including tents. However, each has limitations with respect to the portability. collapsibility or shelter wnich is provided. Some nuts and sheds are dismantleable but are cumbersome to erect. take apart, transport and store. Tents of various types are usuallv not too difficult to pitch and take down, but even here the process can Decome tedious and even complicated with larder examples. Windy and rainv conditions bring added difficulties to this process, ana in more extreme conditions. the relatively limited insulation value of most fabrics makes for high heat loss or gain. Moreover tents are very often draugnty and afford poor protection against pests such as insects. snakes. etc.

There is considered to be a need for a readily portable. easily erected and collapsible temporary building. which affords good shelter in inclement weather conditions, and which is compact when being transported or stored. Such a building should be botn relatively lirh and inexpensive. This tpe of building is particularly needed in emergency situations such as natural disasters. for refugees and or tne homeless. where ease of transport and rapid erection are often vital, and where good protection from the weather is necessary. In inhospitable conditions. weather protection and security of a higher order than that afforded by a tent are called for.

According to one aspect the present invention provides a readily portable and collapsible building which may serve as such a shelter.

comprising a plurality of flat panels which are joined in such a way as to form a rigid frameless structure when erect, and to fold and disconnect so that the panels stow in a flat stack. The panel assemblies are made to such a size that tney are easily handled and positioned individually. after which they may be unfolded and clipped together to form the complete building.

According to another aspect the present invention provides a portable and collapsible building comprising at least four wall means and roof means, each of the wall means comprising at least two substantially rigid panels with pairs of adjacent wall panels being hindlv connected together. Preferably, the building further comprises floor means.

The pairs of adjacent wall panels may be made up of two panels from a given wall means or two panels one from each of an adjacent pair of wall means. in the latter case the hinged connection between the panels being at a corner of the building when erected. Each wall means may comprise two sets of panels. one upper and one lower. with the upper set of two opposed wall means preferablv having inclined edges defining a pitched roof line. The upper set of wall panels of each wall means preferably overlap exteriorly the lower set of panels.

Preferably the wall means overlap the periphery of the floor means.

According to a preferred feature of the present invention. tne panels of the wall means are dimensioned so as to fit on a standard or other pallet. The floor means may also comprise a plurality of sunstantially rigid panels. preferably two pairs thereof witn the panels of each pair hingedly connected together. The floor panels are also preferably dimensioned to fit on a standard or other pallet. The roof means may also comprise a plurality of substantially rigid panels, preferably two pairs thereof with the panels of each pair hingedly connected together.

The roof panels are also preferably dimensioned to fit on a standard or other pallet although they will be slightly oversize in this respect if the roof means is of the pitched type. Thus buildings in accordance with the invention may be stacked on pallets for storage and transport.

This collapsible building may of course be transported and stored without the use of a pallet. It could for instance be carried witnout a pallet on. or in. a vehicle or trailer. and the building mav. when collapsed. be contained partially or completely witnin a box or other container.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be describeo by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective some lower side panel assembly units unfolded and clipped together in position.

Figure 2 shows the lower part of the building assembled inclueina floor panels and adjustable legs.

Figure 3 shows some upper side panels added to the lower assembly.

Figure 4 illustrates the assembled building. with roof ana ooor panels added, and Figure 5 illustrates. to a larger scale, one form of fastening wnich may be employed.

Referring to the drawing, the portable building comprises four wall means 1. 6 and roof means 7. Floor means 4.5. door 8 and windows 9 are incorporated in this example: however, other variants of this invention may be produced without floor. aoor or widows as illustrated.

Each wall means comprises an upper and lower set of panels. 1 and 6 respectivelv. The upper sets of panels bear the roof on their upper edges which define the roof line. The upper edges of two opposed sets of upper panels are inclined in order to give a pitch to the roof.

Again in this example the hinges are at the corners of the building on the lower panels as at 2 in order to assist assembly and increase structural rigidity. as each of the corner assemblies would stand upright on its own before being attached to the other components. The panel assemblies are clipped together with a quick-release fastener on similar means as at 3. but both hinges and quick-release fastener could be located elsewhere and in various combinations. Indeed a combinea hinge and quick-release fastener could be employed at various points throughout the building.

The upper and lower wall panels could themselves be hinged together rather than simply fastened. The upper wall panels could be hinged to.

and arranged to overlap, the lower wall panels in order to proviae rigidity and to shed water when the building is erect.

A cross section of this overlapping hinged join between upper an: lower wall panels is shown in Figure 5 in which the hinge 1, and a fastener 11 are illustrated. Whether this join between upper and lower wail panels be hinged or otherwise fastened. there would be an overlap Detween these panels in this example for the reasons stated.

A floor assembly as illustrated in this example is in many situations desirable, but some variants within the scope of this invention may not be fitted with a floor.

In the case of variants which are aesigned to be transported on a pallet. each panel or panel assembly within the building would b mace to stack and fold flat upon the pallet with little or no overnang. All the necessary panels. panel assemblies and other items comprising the building would form a flat stack from wnich thev coula DC taken wnen tre building is assembled.

Several collapsed buildings could be stowed and transportea on one pallet. Some variants of this invention may incorporate the pallet used in transportation within the floor assembly. In this case when the building is erected the other floor panels would be unfolded from, or attached to. the pallet after it is sited.

It is intended that the square pallet size of approx. 1.22' mm x 1.220 mm would be used, but of course other sized pallets can DC employee.

Again, in this example. in order to erect the building the lower panel assemblies are unfolded and clipped together as in Figure 1. Ine floor supports are added and the floor panels placed in position. Tn adjustable feet can then be adjusted to level the building as in Figure 2. The upper side panel assemblies 6 are unfolded and fastened to the lower side panels. again by a quick release clip, or similar device. as illustrated in Figure 3. In some variants of this design, the upper side panels are attached to. and unfolded from. the lower side panels.

The roof assembly 7 is unfolded and fastened to the structure oy similar means. and the door 8. in this example a stable type door. is added. The completed building is shown in Figure 4. To dismantle the building. the steps described above are carried out in tne reverse sequence.

The above is a particular example of the invention 'other configurations could be based upon non-square or non-rectangular panels.

Panel assemblies would comprise just one individual panel or two or more folding panels. depending on the function of tne assembly. or on tne particular version of the building of which it is a part. It is intended that one particular variant of this invention should be built using just one hinged multiple panel assembly.

The size and weight of the panels would clearly have a bearing on the number of panel units that would best be incorporated into an assembly.

According to this invention. buildings could be made with any number of sides. Additionally, variants could tee produced comprising side panels, some or all of which bear the roof means, reducing or obviating tne need for separate upper side panels.

Some variants could be produced with sides so numerous and so short that in plan view such building would approximate to a curvea shape such as a circle or an ellipse.

When a floor assembly is fitted as in this example. the floor panels could be supported by folding, or otherwise collapsible. joists.

Alternatively, under floor support could be provided by oracles attached to the sides or corners of the bilking.

As stated. for ease of nanalin. storage and transport, the panel assemblies and other components would. where applicable. De laid fiat upon standard pallets thus forming a compact and easily nanuied unit.

Such units which mav comprise a number of buildings. could readily DC shipped bv road. sea or air and only need De manhandled on site where the buildings would be assembled from the pallets, taking off one panel assemblv at a time as needed. This would be relatively light worn.

Claims (18)

1. A readily portable and collapsible building whicn nay serve as a shelter. comprising a plurality of panels which are joined in sucn a way as to form a rigid frameless structure when erect, ana on dismantling.

to fold and disconnect so that the principal parts stow in a fiat Stack.

2. A readily portable and collapsible building as claimed in Claim 1.

wherein one or more panels incorporate a framework.

3. A readily portable and collapsible building as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2, whose component parts may stack on a pallet for storage and transport.

4. A portable and collapsible building comprising at least four wall means and roof means. each of the wail means comprising at least two substantially rigid panels with pairs of adjacent wall panels being hingedly connected together.

5. A building according t Claim 4, wnerein tne pairs of ao3acent wall panels are made up of two panels from a given wall means.

6. A building according to Claim 4, wherein the pairs of aoiacent wall panels are made up of two panels one from each of an adjacent pair of wall means.

7. A building according to any of Claims 4 to , wnerein each wall means comprises. when erected, an upper pair ot panels ana a lower pair of panels with the upper panels overlapping exteriorly the lower panels in the erected building.

8. A building according to Claim 7. wherein opposea upper sees or wall panels have inclined eagles to reline a pitcnea roof line.

9. A building according te any of Claims 4 to 8. wherein tne wall means overlap exteriorly the periphery of the floor means in the erected building.

10. A building according to any of Claims 4 to 9, wherein tne roof means comprise a plurality of substantially rigid panels.

11. A building according to Claim 10. wnerein the roof panels are hingedly connected together.

12. A building according to anv or Claims 4 to 11. wherein ricor means are provided comprising plurality of substantially rigid panels.

13. A building according to Claim 12, wherein the floor panels are hingedly connected togetner.

14. A building according to any of the preceding Claims. wherein adjacent wall. roof and floor panels. as appropriate. which are not hingedly connected together, are releasably attached together in tne erected building.

15. A building according to any of the preceding Claims. wherein tne wall. roof and floor panels. as appropriate. are dimensioned so as substantially to fit on a pallet of a given size for storage ana transport.

16. A building according to any of the preceding claims wherein the floor means, when provided, incorporates the actual pallet used for storage and transport.

17. A building according to any of the preceding claims whicn may incorporate bracing means between panels.

18. A readily portable and collapsible building substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of tne accompanyins drawing.