GB2524171A

GB2524171A - A demountable space-providing structure for persons with special needs

Info

Publication number: GB2524171A
Application number: GB1502957.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Stuart Graham
Original assignee: CREATIVE CARE TODMORDEN Ltd
Current assignee: CREATIVE CARE TODMORDEN Ltd
Priority date: 2014-03-13
Filing date: 2015-02-23
Publication date: 2015-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 2035-02-23
Also published as: GB2524171B; GB201502957D0; GB201404416D0

Abstract

The demountable structure 1 comprises a framework 4 comprising parts secured together by manually-operable first fasteners, one or more side walls 3 defined by sheeting 27, 28 and stretched taut within the framework by manually-adjustable second fasteners. The structure may have a base frame 5, an upper frame and adjustable feet 9 to vary the height of the base frame relative to the floor. The first fasteners may comprise antiluce fasteners or lock pins, and the frames may be of identical polygonal shape. The base frame may be covered by a baseboard which is upholstered or provided with a mattress. The second fasteners may comprise straps with buckles, and the walls may be a one-piece construction. The structure may have manually-operable third fasteners which are zips 37, 42, one half of the zip secured to the framework and the other to the sheeting. The structure may comprise a detachable roof, a zipped doorflap and padding located on the inside.

Description

A DEMOUNTABLE SPACE-PROVIDING STRUCTURE

FOR PERSONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

The present invention relates to demountable structures providing living and sleeping spaces primarily for use by persons with special needs, in particular autistic and challenging children and adults. These structures are primarily intended to provide safe rooms and sleeping areas but in some embodiments may be adapted to provide a bed, sitting area or similar at least partially enclosed space-providing structure.

Mobile children and adults with special needs, such as those with autism, challenging behaviour and profound multiple learning difficulties may exhibit behavioural difficulties including kicking, punching, head-butting and as a consequence often require restraint. Structures are known is that provide enclosed spaces with fabric walls in which such persons can spend time and in which they are unable to cause damage to themselves or the structure by engaging in challenging behaviour. These structures are intended to be permanent once constructed inside a room of a building.

Their construction requires the use of tools and they cannot be readily disassembled and re-erected in other areas.

In contrast other persons, such as immobile persons, persons with epilepsy and those with Alzheimer's disease or similar are liable to injure themselves by falling against furniture and the like as a result of their condition. They may also require an at least partially enclosed space in the form of a bed or seating in which they can come to no harm. Such beds and seating spaces are usually constructed as dedicated beds or seating.

An object of the present invention is to provide a demountable structure that provides a safe space in which all of the aforesaid persons can spend time and that can be assembled and disassembled, as desired, from a kit of parts without the use of tools.

According to the present invention there is provided a demountable space-providing structure adapted to provide a living and/or sleeping space comprising a framework that is assembled from parts that are secured together via manually-operable first fasteners and one or more side walls defined by sheeting that are secured to the framework and stretched taut within the framework by manually-adjustable second fasteners.

Preferably, the framework comprises a base frame and an upper frame between which the sheeting is stretched taut vertically.

Preferably also, the framework comprises uprights between which the sheeting is stretched taut horizontally.

Advantageously, the manually-operable first fasteners comprise antiluce fasteners and/or lock pins and the manually-adjustable second fasteners comprise straps with buckles that are used to tension the straps.

Preferably also, the side wall or walls are defined by a one-piece prefabricated sheeting construction.

Advantageously, all of the manually-operable fasteners and all of the manually-adjustable fasteners are captive whereby they are retained or retainable when the structure has been demounted by parts of the framework or the sheeting construction.

Other preferred but non-essential features of the present invention are described in the dependent claims appended hereto.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a space-providing structure adapted to provide a living and/or sleeping space in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a framework forming part of the structure shown in Fig. i; Fig. 3 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of a lower corner of the framework shown in Fig. 2 during construction of the structure before fitment of lower crossbars thereto; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but after fitment of the lower crossbars; Fig. 5 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of an upper corner of the framework shown in Fig. 2 but before fitment of upper crossbars thereto; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but after fitment of the upper crossbars; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but after fitment of a baseboard to the framework; Fig. 8 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of a lower corner of the framework after fitment of a cover over the baseboard; Fig. 9 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of an upper part of the framework when suspending sheeting defining a side wall therefrom; Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the securement of the sheeting thereto; Fig. 11 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of an upper part of the framework showing the application of padding thereto during construction of the structure; Fig.12 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the fitment of a second cover thereto during construction of the structure; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one side of the structure prior to fitment of a third cover over part of the framework during construction of the structure; Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the structure prior to fitment of a third cover over part of the framework during construction of the structure; Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a lower part of the framework similar to that shown in Fig. 2 but modified to enable the framework to be raised and lowered; Fig. i6 is a perspective view of a lower corner of the framework shown in Fig. i; and Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of part of an upright shown in Fig. 6.

Figs. 1 to 14 illustrate an embodiment of a demountable space-providing structure 1 in accordance with the invention that is adapted to provide a living and/or sleeping space primarily for a person with special needs, in particular an autistic and/or challenging adult or child. It is a feature of the structure 1 that it can be readily erected and dismantled without the use of tools, all of the fasteners used being manually operable.

As shown in Fig. 1, the structure comprises a living and/or sleeping space defined by a base 2 and side walls 3 formed from sheeting that are secured to a framework 4 (see Fig. 2). The framework 4 defines a base frame 5 and uprights 6. The side walls 3 are secured to the framework 4 inwardly of the uprights 6, as described below, and stretched taut. In this way, a person enclosed within the side walls 3 of the structure 1 is restrained in a safe manner as he or she is unable to make contact with the framework 4 even by impacting against the base board, which typically will be padded or provided with a mattress.

The way in which demountable structure 1 is constructed and assembled will now be described in detail with particular reference to Figs. 3 to 14, which form a sequence illustrating various stages during assembly of the structure 1.

The first step in erection of the structure 1 is to construct the framework 4 as shown in Fig. 2. In the illustrated embodiment the framework 4 is made up of the base frame s that comprises a polygonal frame, which in most cases will be rectangular but could be any polygonal shape, that is formed from lower or first crossbars 7 that are detachably secured to the lower ends of the uprights 6 by means of brackets 8. The is uprights 6 are respectively located at each of the corners of the base frame 5 so there are four uprights 6 in the illustrated example and each comprises an adjustable foot 9 whereby the height of the base frame 5 relative to the floor

is adjustable.

It will be appreciated that a circular living/sleeping space is possible with suitable adjustment to the shape of the crossbars 7 and the brackets 8.

In this case the uprights 6 would be evenly spaced around the circumference of the living/sleeping space rather than being adjacent corners of the base frame 5.

As shown in Fig. 3, the brackets 8 slide over the lower ends of the uprights 6 and are secured thereto by a lock pin 10 (see Fig. 4) that engages in pairs of aligned holes ii formed in opposite sides of the lower end of the uprights 6 and the brackets 8. The uprights 6 are hollow and the adjustable feet 9 are inserted into the hollow lower ends of the uprights 6 and secured in a desired position using the same lock pins 10 as are used to connect the brackets 8 to the uprights 6, the feet 9 being provided with a series of holes 12 for this purpose. It will be appreciated that the lock pins 10 are manually operable and that other manually operable fasteners could be used to secure the uprights 6, brackets 8 and feet 9 together, for example a bolt and wing nut arrangement.

The brackets 8 each comprise a first hollow portion 13, which is secured to an upright 6 and adapted to support a pair of channel members 14, which project at right angles out from the upright 6 and are angled with respect to one another, a supporting corner-piece 15 being fixed between them. If the base frame 5 is rectangular, then the channel members 14 are angled at 90°. Otherwise, they are angled at the same internal angle as those of the polygonal base frame it is desired to produce. The channel members 14 support two of the lower crossbars 7, which are inserted into the channel of the channel members 14 and secured thereto by pairs of antiluce fasteners i6, as shown in Fig. 4. Once all the lower crossbars 7 have been secured in position, the framework 4 is stable and generally adopts the position shown in Fig. 2 apart from assembly of an upper frame 17, as will now be described.

The upper frame 15 is a polygonal frame of identical size and shape as the base frame s It therefore comprises upper brackets i8 that are generally similar to the lower brackets 8 with a hollow part 19 and projecting channel members 20. However, the channels defined by the hollow parts 19 are closed at one end so that when the bracket i8 is fitted over the top end of the uprights 6, the bracket 18 is retained in position and supported by the upright 6, as shown in Fig. 5. Upper crossbars 21 similar to the lower crossbars 7 are now secured to the channel members 20 using antiluce fasteners 22, as shown in Fig. 6. The framework 4 is now completed as shown in Fig. 2 and ready for the attachment of the base 2 and side walls 3 that define the living/sleeping space in a tent-like structure.

The base 2 is formed by a baseboard 23 that is over the base frame.

Preferably, the baseboard 23 is provided with projecting pegs at each lower corner that locate in holes 24 defined by the corner-pieces 15. This holds the baseboard 23 in position, as shown in Fig. 7. The baseboard 23 is preferably upholstered on its upper surface or provided with a detachable mattress.

This upholstery or mattress is then covered by a fitted cover 24 that is detachably secured to at least two opposing crossbars 7 and preferably to each of the lower crossbars 7. Advantageously, the cover 25 and the crossbars 7 are detachably secured together by means of zip fasteners 26. One half of the zip fasteners 26 is therefore secured to the crossbars 7 (see Figs. 4 and 8) and the other half of the zip fasteners 26 are therefore secured to the edges of the cover 25. Once the zip fasteners 26 have been closed, the baseboard 23, mattress and cover 25 are securely fastened to the framework 4, as shown in Fig.8.

The side walls 3 are now attached to the framework 4. The side walls 3 are made from sheeting, which may be made of any suitable material but is generally a strong plastics, nylon or similar sheeting that is hard to tear, can is be stretched taut and is washable at least to the extent that it can be washed down without damage. Some of the walls 3 may be providing with netting panels 27 or transparent windows 28 (see Fig. i). At least one wall 3 is provided with a closable flap 29, preferably by means of a zip fastener, that forma a door into the living and/or sleeping space. Preferably, all of the side walls 3 are connected together by prefabrication into a tubular construction that can be connected to the framework 4 in one piece. In this construction 30, where each of the side walls 3 meet, which will be at the corners of the assembled structure 1 adjacent the uprights 6, the side walls 3 are provided with a series of exterior, longitudinally-extending pockets 31.

Similar pockets 32 are also provided along each of the upper edges of the walls 3 of the construction 30. In each of the pockets 31, 32 is located a rod 33 around each of which is located a strap 34 that projects through a hole 35 defined by the pocket 31, 32. Hence a series of straps 34 are provide at a predetermined spacing along the lengths of the side and top edges of each side wall 3 (see Figs. 9, 12 and 13). Each of the straps 34 is provided with a tensioning buckle 36. As is described below, this is to enable the side walls 3 to be secured to the upper frame 17 and the uprights 6. The walls 3 are connected to the base frame 5 by means of zip fasteners 37 and to this end the lower edge of each of the side walls 3 of the construction 30 are provided with one half of the zip fastener 37, the other half of which is connected to the relevant lower crossbar 7 adjacent and below the halves of the zip fasteners 26, as shown in Fig. 4. Adjacent each of the pockets 32 along the upper edges of the side walls 3 is secured a rectangular flap 38 that forms a cover for an adjacent upper crossbar 7, as is described below. The flap 38 is permanently secured to the inside surface of the wall 3, for example by stitching, so that it can be wrapped over the crossbar 7 and secured to the outer surface of the wall by a further zip fastener 39. To this end the long 0 edge of the flap is provided with one half of the zip fastener 39 and the other half of same is secured to the upper part of the adjacent wall 3 of the construction below the pocket 32.

The prefabricated construction 30 is suspended from the upper is crossbars 21, which are preferably provided with a series of hooks 40 over which the buckles 36 along the top edges of the walls 3 are hooked, as shown in Fig. 9. Once the construction 30 is suspended all around the upper framel7, the lower edges of the construction 30 are connected to the lower cross bars 7 using the zip fasteners 37, as shown in Fig. 10. The side walls 3 can now be tensioned vertically by pulling the straps 34 through the buckles 36 that are attached to the hooks 40 until the side walls 3 of the construction are sufficiently taut. The construction 30 is now connected to the uprights 6. First, the uppermost straps 34U at the top of each of the pockets 31 are passed around the horizontally extending parts of the upper brackets i8 and tightened using the buckles 36U (see Fig. ii) to pull the pockets 31 taut.

Then the remainder of the straps 34 protruding from pockets 31 are wrapped around the adjacent upright 6 and secured using the buckles 36. These straps 34 are then pulled through the buckles 36 to tension each side wall 3 horizontally. The side walls 3 and the baseboard 23, with its cover 25 and upholstery/mattress now define the living/sleeping space, which is suspended from the framework 4 inwardly of the uprights 6.

As further protection, the upper crossbars 7 may be covered with padding 41. Preferably this takes the form of channel-section lengths of closed-cell foam that are located over each of the crossbars 7, as shown in Fig. ii. The padding 41 is then held in position by the flaps 38 that form covers for the padding 41 and enclosed crossbar 7. These flaps 38 are wrapped over the padding 41 from the inside of the living/sleeping space and secured to the outside of the construction 30 using the zip fasteners 39. The flaps 38 also cover the straps 34 and buckles 36 secured to the crossbars 7 and may cover the straps 3411.

If necessary, the living/sleeping space can be provided with a roof panel (not shown). This may comprise a further sheet of material, typically of netting to allow airflow, that is secured to outer sides of the flaps 38 after they have been zipped into position covering the crossbars 7. Again, the roof panel is preferably secured in position using a zip fastener and to this end one half of auxiliary zip fasteners 42 are secured to the outer surfaces of the flaps 38, the other half of the zip fasteners being secured to the edges of the roof panel.

Finally, the uprights 6 along with the straps 34 and buckles 36 secured thereto are covered by protective covers 43, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. Preferably, these covers are internally padded and fit over the upper brackets 8 and around the uprights 6. They are secured by zip fasteners 44 to the side walls 3. Again, appropriate halves of two zip fasteners 44 are secured to the walls 3 on each side of the pockets 31 respectively. The other halves of the fasteners 44 are secured to opposite edges of the covers 43 50 that they can be zipped in place. Once all of the covers 43 have been secured, assembly of the structure 1 is complete.

The assembled structure 1 therefore provides a safe living/sleeping space, akin to a tent, that can be occupied voluntarily or involuntarily, particularly in the latter case by a person with special needs who may otherwise harm themselves if not restrained. In this regard it will be -10 -appreciated that all parts of the framework 4 impactable from within the space defined by the side walls 3 are covered by padding of one form or another. Preferably, as in the illustrated example, all parts of the framework 4 both on the exterior and in the interior of the structure 1 are covered by padding. It will also be appreciated that in all cases the zip fasteners 26, 37, 39 and 44 and that of the doorflap 29 are fastened from the outside of the structure 1 so that once inside with the doorfiap 29 closed it is not possible to escape. However, versions of the structure with a two-way zip around the doorflap 29 may be provided for persons that require a refuge rather than restraint so they can unzip the doorfiap from the inside the structure 1.

Once assembled the interior of the structure 1 can be kitted out as appropriate with cushions, pillows and bedding as appropriate for its intended use.

It will also be appreciated that as all of the fasteners 10, i6, 22, 26, 36, 37, 39, 40, 42, 44 used in the structure's assembly are manually operated, the structure 1 can be readily assembled and disassembled, as required.

Further it will also be appreciated that the fasteners 10, i6, 22, 26, 36, 37, 39, 40, 42, 44 are captive so that when the structure 1 is dissembled the fasteners do not have to be stored separate from the other parts of the structure 1 and so cannot be lost. The structure 1 therefore provides a safe space in which vulnerable persons and those with special needs can spend time that is readily demountable, as desired, from a kit of parts without the use of tools.

Although the illustrated embodiment of the invention is of a structure 1 that provides an enclosed room other embodiments are possible that provide a bed or seating. To provide a bed or seating, the base frame 5 is located at a higher level relative to the uprights 6, for example by providing appropriately sized feet 9. Also, the side wall construction 30 is made such that it defines walls 3 which may be lower than those of the illustrated embodiment and without a roof panel. One of the longer side walls 3 is cut- -11 -away centrally to allow access to the bed or the seat and to enable medical assistance to be provided for any occupant. In some embodiments, the framework 1 may be adapted by altering the design of the uprights 6 and feet 9 so that the framework 4 and therefore any bed formed on the base frame 5 can be raised and lowered mechanically, for example by cables. Such a modified structure will now be described by reference to Figs. 15 to 17.

In this modified embodiment, in order to enable the framework 4 to be raised, the feet 9 are respectively connected to inner tubes 45 that are inserted into the lower part of the uprights 6. The feet 9 may be adjustably mounted with respect to the lower ends of the inner tubes 45 that protrude from the uprights 6 in the same fashion as described above with respect to the uprights 6. This enables the lowest height of the base frame 5 to be adjusted. However, the uprights 6 are capable of moving up and down over is the inner tubes 45 so that they, the base frame 5 and the rest of the framework 4 can be raised or lowered as desired, for example to permit professional staff to attend to a person lying on a mattress covering the base frame 5 at a convenient height.

The inner tubes 45 are each supported by upper and lower bearings 46 and 47 respectively. The upper bearing 46 is fixed to the tube 45 and moves along with the tube 45 relative to the upright 6 whereas the lower bearing 47 is fixed to the upright 6 so that the tube 45 moves relative to it.

Secured to the upper end of the tube 45 via a bolt 48 is one end of a Bowden cable 49 or similar cabling. The bolt 48 protrudes through a longitudinal slot provided in the upright 6 so that the cable 49 is located on the exterior of the upright 6. The cable 49 also passes through a bracket i that is secured to the upright 6 below the level of the lower end of the slot 50. The other end of the cable 49 is attached to an electric actuator 52 that is fixed to a frame 3 centrally located beneath the base frame j. The frame may be suspended beneath the base frame 5, for example by straps 54 secured to the lower crossbars 7. The cables 49 from each of the four uprights 6 are secured to the same actuator 52, which must have sufficient power to operate all four -12 -cables 49 simultaneously. However, the use of a single actuator 52 for this purpose has the advantage that the framework 4 and therefore the base frame 5 is always lifted in an even, level fashion.

On actuation of the actuator 52, the cables 49 are retracted so that the uprights 6 are raised relative to the inner tubes 45. It will be appreciated that raising of the uprights 6 raises the whole of the framework 4 relative to the inner tubes 45 and the feet 9. The uprights 6 rise to a maximum height determined by the distance the cables 49 are retracted and the slots 50 each io need to be made a sufficient length to enable the bolt 48 to travel this distance along the slot. The framework 4 i is lowered by gravity under control of an hydraulic mechanism within the actuator 52. Releasing the pull on the cables 49 by the actuator 52 allows the uprights 6 to descend over the inner tubes 45 so that the bolts 48 travel to the upper end of the slots so.

is Preferably, stops are provided at the lower ends of the inner tubes 45 that limit the travel of the uprights 6 down over the inner tubes 45.

When it is desired to demount this modified embodiment of the structure 1, the bolts 48 can be detached from the inner tubes 45 to which they are connected and the cables 49 can then be threaded through the brackets 51 so that the actuator 52 can be detached from the structure 1. This leaves the structure 1 in a condition wherein it can be demounted and reassembled as described above.

Claims

-13 -CLATMS1. A demountable space-providing structure adapted to provide a living and/or sleeping space comprising a framework that is assembled from parts that are secured together via manually-operable first fasteners and one or more side walls defined by sheeting that are secured to the framework and stretched taut within the framework by manually-adjustable second fasteners.
2. A structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the framework comprises a base frame and an upper frame between which the sheeting is stretched taut vertically.
3. A structure as claimed in Clam 1 or Claim 2, wherein the framework comprises uprights between which the sheeting is stretched taut horizontally.
4. A structure as claimed in Claim 3 when dependent on Claim 2, wherein the uprights each comprise an adjustable foot whereby the height of the base frame relative to the floor is adjustable.
5. A structure as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the manually-operable first fasteners comprise antiluce fasteners and/or lock pins.
6. A structure as claimed in Claim 5 when dependent on Claims 2 and 3, wherein the base frame comprises a polygonal frame formed by first crossbars that are detachably secured to first brackets by the antiluce fasteners, the first brackets being secured to the uprights by the lock pins.
7. A structure as claimed in Claim 6 when dependent on Claim 4, wherein the adjustable feet are respectively secured to the uprights by -14 -the same lock pins that are used to secure the uprights to the first brackets.
8. A structure as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 6, wherein the uprights each comprise an inner tube that is inserted into the lower part of its upright and to which one of the feet is connected, the tubes being movable out of or into the uprights to raise or lower the uprights relative to the feet.
9. A structure as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the uprights are capable of being raised or lowered relative to the inner tubes by an actuator connected via cables to the inner tubes.
10. A structure as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 when dependent on Claim 2, wherein the upper frame comprises a polygonal frame of identical size and shape as the base frame.
ii. A structure as claimed in Claim 10, wherein upper frame is formed from second crossbars that are detachably secured to second brackets by the antiluce fasteners, the second brackets being attached to the uprights.
12. A structure as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the upper ends of the uprights are respectively inserted into closed channels defined by the second brackets whereby the second brackets are supported by the uprights.
13. A structure as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 12 when dependent on Claim 2, wherein the base frame is covered by a baseboard that is supported by parts of the first brackets.
14. A structure as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the baseboard is upholstered or provided with a detachable mattress.-15 -
15. A structure as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the manually-adjustable second fasteners comprise straps with buckles that are used to tension the straps.
i6. A structure as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 15, wherein the side wall or walls are defined by a one-piece prefabricated sheeting construction.
17. A structure as claimed in Claim i6 when dependent on Claim 15, wherein the straps each secure a part of the framework and to a rod that is located in a pocket defined by the sheeting construction.
i8. A structure as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the sheeting construction is suspended from the framework by a plurality of the buckles and is tensioned vertically by the straps secured to said buckles.
19. A structure as claimed in Claim 17 or Claim 18 when dependent on Claim 3, wherein the sheeting construction is tensioned horizontally by others of the straps that are wrapped around the uprights and tensioned via their respective buckles.
20. A structure as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 19, wherein the sheeting construction is also secured to the framework by manually-operable third fasteners.
21. A structure as claimed in Claim 20, wherein the manually-operable third fasteners are zip fasteners.
22. A structure as claimed in Claim 21, wherein one half of each of the zip fasteners is secured to the framework and the other half of each of the zip fasteners is secured to the sheeting construction.-16 -
23. A structure as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 22, wherein all of the manually-operable fasteners and all of the manually-adjustable fasteners are captive whereby they are retained or retainable when the structure has been demounted by parts of the framework or the sheeting construction.
24. A structure as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 23, wherein a roof panel is provided for the living and/or sleeping space that is detachably secured to the side walls.
25. A structure as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 24, wherein one of the side walls comprises a doorfiap that is secured to the rest of said side wall by means of a zip fastener.25. A structure as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 25, wherein all parts of the framework impactable from within the space defined by the side walls of the structure are covered by padding.
26. A demountable space-providing structure adapted to provide a living and/or sleeping space substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 14 or Figs. i and i6 of the accompanying drawings.