US2212757A - Base for portable houses - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 27, 1940; w. B. STOUT BASE FOR PORTABLE HOUSES' Filed July 30, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l illiiawlwi m Zz'am ,B.5iazz2 Aug. 27, 1940. w, STOUT ?,2l2,757v

BASE FOR PORTABLE HOU'SES Filed July 30, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR H W 47 5550x12 7 TTORNE rs,

Patented Aug. 27, 1940 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFF E] I. 2,212,757, Q i v Michigan Application Julyso, 1937, seiiiu No. 156,555 aeleim (01.72-17) This invention relates-to bases or supportingstructures for eXpa-nsible trailers.- More particularly it relates to a permanently mounted base construction primarily designed for the purpose;

of providing a rigid' mounting for trailers'of the generic type disclosed in applicants pri or copending applications, Serial Nos.- 49,463 and 115,180, assigned to the assigneeof the present invention.

- In order to obtain a better'understanding'of the nature and general object of the present invention, reference may be had to these prior copending applications. v

7 It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a rigid supporting base for structures of this general character which includes novel means for accurately positioning the road Wheels of the trailer structure with respect to the base in order that when the-structure is expanded or unfolded, the base may be utilized to support the building structure in level predetermined adjusted position. 7 g The present invention contemplates the provision of a. plurality of short upwardly extending rigidly mounted supports which are adapted'to engage the under side of the building structure at various strategic points in order to provide a strong rigid support for the same and, in addition, means are provided for obtaining access to tires thereof may be deflated in order to'firmly seat the building structure on the supports. Yet another object of the present invention to provide a base for trailers of this generic type 351 in-which channels or runways are provided for receiving the r'oad wheels of the trailer, which channels are so disposed and so constructed that they serve'to provide means for accurately posi timing the building structure with respect to the base prior to the unfolding of the same.

Still further, the present invention contemplates the provision of a substantial base construction which, if desired, may beconstructed in such a manner as to provide a cellar or basement which may be usedjforjstorage purposesin the event that the building structure is used for living quarters duringa protracted period. Many other and further objects, advantages,

and features of the present invention will become more clearly apparent from a consideration of the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof. In the drawings: i i Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of'the present invention. a

.10 the road wheelsof the vehiclefin order that'the Fig: 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on theline'r -Z of Fig. 1 illustrating in detail-thecross sectional configuration of I the structure shown in Fig. '1. I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional 5" viewtaken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 illustrating in further detail the construction of the improved base structure. r v

"Fig.4 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Fig.' 3,'illustrating the base structure with an expansi blebuilding disposed in-unfolded condi--* tion thereon. I

' Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a modified form of the invention, particularly adaptable toinstallations where a maximum of insulation i5 desired. 1

Fig. 6 is 'a still further modified View of the invention which has the same generic features as that disclosedin the preferred form of the inven-- tion illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, but whichis 20 considerably simpler in construction.

Fig. '7 illustrates a modified form of structure which maybe utilized in connection with any of the foregoing forms of the invention to take the weight off the wheels of the vehicle when it is mounted in position upon the support.

A's-will be apparent by reference to the prior c'o-pending applications referred to above, the specific 'form ofbase structure illustrated inthe drawings-and described below is primarily designed for supporting expansible building structures of the generic type shown in elevation in Fig.4. Building structures of this generic type include a main or central section 5 which is supported'for transportation on a pair of'road wheels 6 and which has associated therewith foldable walls which may be unfolded to substantially the" positions shown in Fig. 4 when the building structure-is "stationary to provide reinforced side wall sectionsforthe' central portion of the building 40 structure when the same is transported from place to place.

The improved'base construction disclosed in the drawings includes a generally rectangular structure formed of reinforced concrete or other 45; suitable material and in the form shown, has a floor "l, sidewalls 8, and walls 9. The top is preferably closed by a substantially horizontal reinforced concrete roof l0 having a plurality of upwardly extending supporting posts ll adapted 9y to engagethe-corners of the centralsection 5 of the building structure when the same is mounted inposition thereon.; g I

Adjacent the. corners of the surface structure tflof the base are, in addition, provided a plu-, ,5;

rality of posts 12 which are adapted to engage and support the outer corners of the floor section of the building structure when the same is in unfolded condition. The structure as a whole forms a hollow room-like basement or cellar immediately beneath the building structure which it serves to support and convenient access to this basement or cellar may be had by means of a series of steps I3 and a doorway opening [4. The upper surface of the supporting base has a pair of parallel wheel receiving channels I5 therein which extend from one side of the surface to apointsubstantially in the central portion of the upper surface of the base structure. These channels become substantially deeper adjacent their rear ends to provide wheel receiving recesses l6 which serve to retain the building structure in adjusted position upon the base structure.

A suitable opening I! is provided through the surface of the base structure between the wheel receiving recesses: H5 in order that access from the cellar may be had to the road wheels ot the trail.- er structure in order todeflate the tires: thereof and provide proper seating or the structure upon the base.

In use of the device, an expansible portable building constructionin folded condition may be rolled into position upon the supporting base, the: wheels of the building structure entering the channels 15: and. rolling rearwardly until they become seated in. the wheel receiving recesses- Hi. The building may then be unfolded to expanded condition and the-parts thereof are then: occupying. the positions shown the dotted lines in Fig. 3. Access tov the road wheels. may then be had through the opening I? from the cellar of the. base structure and the tires of the road wheels may be deflated through lowering the entire building structure on tothe supporting; postsi l: and- 2 where: it will be rigidly seated and, displacement. thereof will be virtually precluded. This sup porting base provides an exceptionally strong permanent mounting for the portable building con.- struction when it is desired tolocate the same in a. predetermined location for a relatively long length of time and it will be seen that the cellar beneath the supporting surface of the base structure will serve to provide convenient means for storing articles during the time the building structure isdisposed on; the base. A coping; wall- 20 may surround the portion. of thebase. structure adjacent the wheel receiving channels in. order to preclude the'entrance of moisture to the cellar through the opening H. It will be further appreciated that the floor of the building is. located. in slightly spaced relation with. respect to. the: upper surface of the supporting structure in. order to provide proper ventilation beneath the building; and yet. at the same. time to provide astrong rigid mounting. for the trailer structure...

While the above described form of the invention will find wide, practical utility in certain installations, it hasbeen. found. desirable to. provide in some cases a. support structure which. will obtain. substantially equivalentresults' and yet.- at the same time be-somewhat cheaper to construct. With this end. in view, Figures: 5 and 6 of the. drawings illustrate modified. forms of the base structure illustrated in Figures 1 to- 4, inclusive,- which modified: forms of base.- structures. have substantiall-y' the same general features but depart: slightly in the specific form of construction.

It will readily be appreciated that in the-form of the" invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inelusive; relatively widely separated supporting posts have been used for the purpose of supporting the foldable portions as well as the central portion of the collapsible building structure when the same is mounted upon the support. This form of supporting base is particularly desirable for utilization during the summertime when a maximum of ventilation is desired underneath the floor of the vehicle, in order to maintain the interior temperature thereof as cool as possible. However, in certain installations, it may be desirable to provide a support of the type illustrated in. Figure 5, which is primarily adapted for use during cold weather and which contemplates the useof a retaining wall or foundation structure for supporting the foldable portions of the collapsible building structure in such manner that the space underneath the floor of the vehicle is completely enclosed when the same is in unfolded condition and thereby provides insulation for the floor of the vehicle which may aid in maintaining the vehicle warm inside.

To accomplish this end, and at the same time to provide a somewhat simpler supporting base structure, a construction substantially as shown in Figure 5 may be used, which supporting base may, as has been described above, be formed of reinforcing concrete, and includes a pair of. wheel receiving. channels 30- spaced apart in accordance with the spacing of the wheels of the portable building. structure to be supported. Adjacent their rear ends, these. channels are provided with depressions 3.I- which are adapted to accurately position the vehicle upon the support and prevent longitudinal movement thereof once the vehicle hasbe'en seated in. position, A foundation or retaining wall. 3-2 is cooperatively positioned with respect tothe wheel receiving channels 30 so that as the expansible portions of the building are unfolded, this retaining wall will serve to support them and enclose the air space immediately beneath the floor ofv the expansible building. construction. If desired, a well 33 may be formed between the wheel receiving. channels, access to which may be had. by means of a stairway 34 in order that. when the expansible building structure is-disposed upon the support for a substantial length of time, access to the supporting wheels of the vehicle may be had in order to deflate the tires, as has been described. above in connection with the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In Figure 6 is illustrated a form of the invention which isvery similar in many respects to that illustrated in Figure 5 and which includes wheel receiving, channels 30 having recesses 3| at their inner endsv and. the same form a. well 33 between these wheel receiving channels, access to which may be hadby means ofthe stair 34. In this format the invention. the supporting. or retaining wall is dispensed with and a plurality of posts 35 may be placed. directly in. the earth adjacent to and cooperatively positioned with respect to the wheel receiving. channels 3|, which. posts may be utilized for the purpose of. supporting the foldable portions of. the building. structure when the same is in. unfolded. condition. This form of the invention has substantially the same generic features as the-preferredformofthe invention illus-' tratedin Figurestll to- 4 of the drawings, except that it is considerably simpler and cheaper to construct and: does not. provide as much storagespace underneath the: building structure.

In Figure: 7 is illustrated a featurewhich may be used in connection with any ofthe above described. forms of the invention and whichrmay be utilized in order that it will be unnecessary to prises the provision of a cam surface 31 which may serve to elevate the aXle of the vehicle as the same is backed into position upon the supporting base, whereby the tires of the vehicle will beraised from the ground, thus taking the load off the tires of the vehicle and rendering deflation of the tires unnecessary. It will be readily appreciated that this expedient may be used in connection with any of the foregoing forms of the invention, as may be desired.

Several specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein particularly designed and adapted for supporting a definite given type of expansible building structure, such as has been described in prior copending applications referred to above. Many modifications of the structure disclosed, which may be utilized for the purpose of supporting buildings of the various and different types, will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are included in the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A base structure for supporting portable buildings including in combination a relatively rigid enclosed housing having an upper surface substantially the size of the building to be supported, posts extending upwardly from said upper surface adapted to engage a portable building disposed thereon, and wheel receiving channels in said upper surface adapted to guide the wheels of said portable building into predetermined position with respect to said posts, said wheel receiving channels being substantially deeper adjacent the rear ends in order to accurately position said portable building structure with respect to said posts.

2. A base structure for supporting portable buildings including in combination a relatively rigid enclosed housing having an upper surface substantially the size of the building to be supported, posts extending upwardly from said upper surface adapted to engage a portable building disposed thereon, wheel receiving channels in said upper surface adapt-ed to guide the wheels of said portable building into predetermined position with respect to said posts, wheel receiving recesses in said channels and an opening through the upper surface of said base structure adjacent said wheel receiving recesses providing access thereto.

3'. A base for supporting vehicular building structures including in combination a substantially rectangular housing, wheel guiding channels in the upper surface of said housing, wheel receiving recesses in the end of said channels, upwardly extending supporting means adapted to engage the under side of said building structure, means at one of the sides of said housing to obtain access to the interior thereof, and an opening through the upper surface of said housing providing access from the interior thereof to said wheel receiving recesses.

WILLIAM B. STOUT.

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