US3139958A - Portable foldable building structure - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmvron.

BY 2 zx 91 CLARENCE NEIL DE W177;

PATENTAGENZ July 7, 1964 c. N. DE WlTT PORTABLE FOLDABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 20, 1960 C. N. DE WlTT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 CLARENCE NEIL DE W/TT,

INVENTOR.

PATENT AGENT;

July 7, 1964 PORTABLE FOLDABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Dec.

July 7, 1 c. N. DE WlTT 3,139,958

PORTABLE FOLDABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 20, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 CLARENCE NEIL DEW/T7,

W gig? 7 INVENTOR.

fllIIII PATENTAGENZ July 7, 1964 c. N. DE WlTT PORTABLE FOLDABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec.

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PATENT AGEN7I July 7, 1964 c. N. DE WlTT PORTABLE FOLDABL E BUILDING STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec.

INVENTOR.

ATENTAGENZ United States Patent 3,139,958 PORTABLE FOLDABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE Clarence Neil De Witt, Canoga Park, Calif. (1310 Zehnder St., Sumner, Wash.) Filed Dec. 20, 196i), Ser. No. 77,228 21 Claims. (Cl. 189-2) This invention relates to a portable, foldable building structure and more particularly to a building structure of relatively rigid material which is easily and readily unfolded for erection at a desired site to provide a building affording maximum protection against the elements and foldable into a relatively compact package requiring a minimum of space for storage and/or portability.

More specifically, this invention provides a new and improved portable, foldable building structure comprising a foldable roof pivotally secured to a foldable wall structure. The roof includes a plurality of roof sections hingedly secured to each other along hinge lines radially converging to a common hub. The roof sections fold in accordion or, more specifically, in pleated fan fashion to juxatpose sections in substantially parallel face-to-face relationship and unfold to arrange the sections radially around the hub and form a roof having a substantially conical configuration. The wall means comprises a plurality of wall sections hingedly secured in edge-to-edge relationship, the wall sections being foldable into substantially parallel face-to-face relationship to each other and unfoldable into a vertical position of polygonal configuration underlying the roof for support thereof.

The roof and the wall, when folded, are pivotable relative to each other so as to further collapse the building into a condition wherein the wall sections are interleafed between the roof sections, thereby forming a compact folded package, taking up space approximating the sum of the component sections as though stacked.

Manually operable locking means are provided for easily and readily locking the roof and the wall means in their unfolded state, such releasable locking means being operable without the necessity of the use of extraneous tools or fasteners.

The building structure of the present invention pro vides means whereby a temporary shelter may be quickly and easily erected and equally easily and readily collapsed into a compact package for portability or storage. Anticipating the application of this invention to a building structure of relatively large proportion, roller means are provided to facilitate support of the building during the folding and unfolding operations to minimize friction of the bottom edges of the wall sections against the surface of the site. Secondary roller means are provided to support the compact package of the folded building when the wall sections are interleafed between the roof sections whereby the folded building may be easily and readily transported to its storage place or to a means of cartage.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved building structure which is foldable into a compact package of minimum size and unfoldable to provide a temporary, semi-permanent or permanent building structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved foldable building structure in which a roof and wall thereof are each foldable into packages having substantially minimal size of their accumulated component parts and further foldable one relative to the other so as to provide a folded package having a substantially 3,139,958 Patented July 7., 1964 minimal accumulated size of both the roof and the wall.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved foldable building structure which is portable in both its folded and unfolded conditions.

An important object of this invention is to provide a new and improved foldable building structure which cornprises component parts which are relatively rigid so as to provide an erected building structure having substantial rigidity and strength.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved foldable building structure of the character described which affords maximum protection from the elements of the weather in its unfolded and erected condition.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved foldable building structure of the character described which is lockable in its unfolded erected condition without the use of extraneous tools or fasteners.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved building structure of the character described which is economical to manufacture and capable of mass production.

A general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved foldable building structure of the character described which overcomes disadvantages of prior means and methods heretofore intended to accomplish generally similar purposes.

These and other objects of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the building structure of this invention, in an unfolded, erected condition;

FIGURE 2 is a side view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, horizontal cross-sectional view as taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 3a is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical crosssectional view as taken substantially along the line 3a-3a of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 4 is a side view, in elevation, of the building structure of this invention and an initial folded condition;

FIGURE 5 is a View, similar to FIGURE 4, illustrating the building structure in a final folded condition;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the structure of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, horizontal, cross-sectional view, as taken substantially along the line 77 of FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical, cross-sectional view as taken substantially along the line 88 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical, cross-sectional view as taken substantially along the line 99 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged, horizontal, cross-sectional view, as taken substantially along the line 101tl of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged, horizontal, cross-sectional view, as taken substantially along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary side view, in elevation, of a first wheel means capable of lifting and supporting the building structure;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary side view, in elevation, of a second roller means capable of supporting the build- 3 ing structure in its finally folded condition illustrated in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged and foreshortened, vertical, cross-sectional view, as taken substantially along the line 1414 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 14a is a fragmentary side view, as viewed along the line 14a14a of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 15 is a vertical, cross-sectional view illustrating disconnected locking means of FIGURE l4 in locked relationship; and

FIGURE 16 is a vertical, cross-sectional view, as viewed substantially along the line 16-16 of FIGURE 15.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown, by way of illustration, but not of limitation, a building structure designed and constructed in accordance with this invention and generally designated by the numeral 20. The building structure 28 comprises a foldable roof 21 which, as best seen in FIGURE 2, is generally conical in configuration when unfolded, and an upright, plural-sectioned wall supporting the roof 21 and having a polygonal configuration, octagonal herein shown, when unfolded.

The roof 21 comprises a plurality of relatively rigid sections indicated by the numeral 22, the sections being substantially triangular in configuration and of equal size. The sections 22 include relatively longer edges 23 and 24 which converge, radially relative to the roof 21, to an apex 26 adjacent to a hub 27 which is common to all sections 22 when unfolded.

The roof sections 22 are juxtaposed in edge-to-edge relationship, with, for example, long edges 23, 24 of one section 22 adjacent to long edges 23, 24, respectively, of adjacent sections 22, the adjacent edges 23, 24 being hingedly secured to enable folding of the roof in a manner to be hereinafter described. When unfolded, the roof 21, with its conical arrangement of the sections 22, defines ridges 28 at the edges 24 and valleys 29 at alternate hinged connections of the edges 23.

As best seen in FIGURE 8, each ridge 28 includes a longitudinal member having sloped sides 31 and 32 preferably reinforced as by transverse brackets 33 secured to the underside thereof by fasteners, such as rivets 34, or the like. A pair of spaced, elongated socket members 36 are secured to the underside of the member 30, each including an elongated channel 37 in which elongated beads 38, secured to the ends 23 and 24 of adjacent sections 22, are rotatably disposed. Each socket member 36 provides limiting or stop shoulders 39 and 41 abuttable with a neck portion 42 of its associated bead 38 to limit pivotal movement of the bead 38 within the channels 37. The stops are less than 180 degrees apart so as to retain the beads within the channels. An end plate, indicated by the broken line 43 in FIGURE 8 and in solid lines in FIGURE 2, is preferably secured to the outer open end of each of the channel members 36 and spanning the open end to prevent linear movement or removal of the bead 38 within the channel 37 after installation therein. The brackets 33 spanning the underside of the ridge member 30, in addition to reinforcing the member, serve to support electrical conduits, as indicated at 44 in FIGURE 8, if desired, to service electrical appliances and fixtures.

It will be noted that by the instant construction, the ridge members hingedly secure adjacent roof sections 22 enabling folding of the sections from the unfolded position shown in FIGURE 8, determined by the limiting stop 39, to the folded position shown in FIGURE 14 determined by the limiting stop 41, wherein the sections 22 are substantially parallel.

The roof sections 22 are preferably corrugated, pleated, or otherwise strengthened, as illustrated in cross-section in FIGURE 16 and indicated by the numeral 22. It is to be understood, however, that the sections may be fiat, laminated, or otherwise formed of a relatively-rigid material, such as metal, plastics, or the like, and preferably of a light-weight material, such as aluminum, or the like. The bead members 38 and the channel members 36 are 4 preferably extruded, or otherwise formed, of a lightweight, rigid material such as aluminum, or the like, and imperforate so as to form moisture-proof hinges.

The adjacent edges 24 are firmly supported within longitudinal grooves 46 provided in the extrusions 38 and are preferably sealed as by sealing strips 47 of rubber, neoprene, or the like, provided in the bottom of the channel 46 to prevent moisture from flowing around the edges 24.

As best seen in FIGURE 9, the valleys 29 similarly form imperforate, sealed hinge means thereat for facilitating folding of the roof sections 22. Each valley 2? comprises an elongated socket member, which is preferably extruded or otherwise formed of a relatively rigid material, to provide a pair of spaced channels 48 in which beads 49, similar to the beads 38, but inverted, are rotatably disposed. Each extrusion 49 is provided with a groove 51, similar to the grooves 46, in which the adjacent edges 23 of the roof sections 22 are secured by fasteners, such as rivets 52, or the like. Sealing strips 53 are bottomed in the grooves 51 and abutted with the edges 23 of the sections 22 to seal the edges and prevent moisture from seeping therearound.

Stop edges 54 are provided to limit the valley hinging movement of the section 22 into its unfolded position whereas longitudinal stops 56 are provided to limit the valley hinging movement of the sections 22 into their folded position of FIGURE 14. Additionally, each valley member is preferably reinforced by a longitudinal rib 59 depending therefrom and extending throughout its entire length.

As best seen in FIGURE 7, one of the valleys, indicated at 29 in FIGURES l and 7, is secured to the hub 27. The hub 27 includes a conical top member 61 forming a flange 62 overhanging the surrounding apices 26 of the sections 22 when the roof is in its unfolded condition. The hub 27 includes a cylindrical portion 63 depending from the top member 61 and having an arm 64 extending radially therefrom. The arm 64 is secured to the reinforcing rib 59 of the valley member 29 as by welding, or the like, indicated at 66. A sealing sleeve 67 is preferably provided, surrounding the cylindrical portion 63, to assist in sealing the periphery of the cylindrical member 63 when the apices are arranged therearound in the unfolded position of the roof.

The roof 21 is split at one of its valleys, indicated by the numeral 29" which is the valley opposing the valley 29' secured to the hub and joining outermost edges 23' of outermost sections 22' when unfolded and the edges are juxtaposed. The valley 29", as best seen in FIGURE 15, is similar in construction to the typical valley 29 illustrated in FIGURE 9, with the exception that the reinforcing strip 59 is virtually bisected to form a pair of abuttable half- sections 71 and 71 each having a longitudinal sealing strip of pliable, resilient material, such as rubber, neoprene, or the like, 74 sandwiched between the flanges 73. The outermost edges 23' are secured in sealed relationship to beads 76, similar to the beads 49, whereby the outermost roof sections 22 are hinged in sealed relationship.

As best seen in FIGURES 15 and 16, releasable locking means, generally designated by the numeral 77, is provided to releasably lock the valley members 71 and 71' of the valley 29 together when the roof 21 is in its fully unfolded and erected condition.

The releasable locking means 77 comprises a lug 78 extending transversely from the member 71' and secured thereto, by welding, or the like, as in an aperture 79 thereof and a reinforcing channel member 81 secured to the member 71'. The lug 78 is extensible as through aligned apertures 82 of the flange member 73 and a reinforcing channel member 83 secured thereto and so as to position a transverse aperture 84 of the lug 78 beyond the outer surface of the channel 83. A pin 86, preferably having a conical end 87, is linearly movable relative to the channel 83 in aligned apertures 88 of transverse webs 89 secured to the channel 03 and through the transverse aperture 84 to lock the lug 78 against withdrawal from the apertures 82. A cable 91 is preferably secured to the pins 06, as by lugs 92 extending therefrom, to manually, or otherwise, actuate the pin 86 from a remote location, preferably close to the ground where it can be reached conveniently by an operator, to insert the pin 86 through the aperture 84 when it is aligned with the aperture 88. Conversely, the cable may be reversed to withdraw the pin 86 from the lug 78 to free the lug like 78 whereby the roof may be separated at the valley 29" for folding thereof. A plurality of lugs like 78 may be linearly spaced on the member 71' and registrable with an equal plurality of aligned apertures 82 formed in the valley member 71 and an equal plurality of pins like 06 provided and operable by a single cable 01 to releasably lock the valley 29" in sealed relationship.

To fold the roof 21, the sections 22' are separated by release of the locking pins like 86 through actuation of the cable 91 whereby the sections 22 and 22' may be folded like a radially pleated fan to the position shown at 14 wherein the sections 22 and 22' are substantially parallel and in face-to-face relationship to each other.

The wall comprises a plurality of wall sections 101 which are hingedly secured in edge-to-edge relationship so as to be foldable into substantially parallel, stacked relationship and unfoldable into the polygonal configurations referred to above. Each section 101 has opposing parallel edges 102 and 103 which are vertical when the wall sections are in their upright unfolded position, a bottom edge 104 substantially normal thereto and an up per, inclined edge 106 disposed angularly relative thereto, whereby the edge 102 is substantially longer than the edge 103. The wall sections 101 are juxtaposed in edgetoedge relationship with the short edge 103 of one section 101 being adjacent to the short edge 103 of the adjacent section 101 and hingedly secured as by a corner hinge indicated generally by the numeral 107. The relatively longer edge 102 of one section is adjacent to the edge 102 of an adjacent section 101 and hingedly secured thereto by a panel hinge generally designated by the numeral 108.

As best seen in FIGURE 10, the corner hinge member 107, illustrated therein in horizontal cross-section, includes an extruded, or otherwise formed rigid central member 109 having a pair of opposing semi-cylindrical channel members 111, similar to the channels 37 and 48 of the roof hinge members 28 and 29, respectively, so as to rotatably receive longitudinal beads 112 of extrusions 113 each supporting an end 103 of adjacent wall sections 101. The edges 103 are received in longitudinal grooves 114 of the extrusion members 113 and conveniently secured thereto as by fasteners like rivets 116, or the like.

Each section like 101 is preferably made of a relatively rigid material such as the honeycombed, metal (or plastic) laminated wall section preferably of a light-weight metal, such as aluminum, or the like. Such laminated material generally comprises relatively thin outer skins 117 having sandwiched therebetween a cellular layer 118 of honeycomb cross-section. Such a wall provides excellent soundproofing and insulating qualities and is relatively rigid, but is preferably reinforced as fastening points as by spacers 119 to avoid crushing the edges like 103 and all other edges thereof. The channels 111 preferably include a longitudinal limiting stop shoulder 121 for limiting the pivotal movement of the section 101 into its outwardly folded position and a similar longitudinal stop 122 engageable with the counterpart of the extrusion 113 for limiting the folded position as illustrated in FIGURE 14.

As best seen in FIGURE 11, the panel hinges 108 provide means whereby a pair of adjacent sections 101 are limited in their unfolded position to a coplanar, substantially aligned relationship. The hinge means 108 includes hinge beads 123 rotatably disposed in longitudinal cylin- 0 drical channels 124 of the longitudinal body 126 of the hinge. Longitudinal stop shoulders 127 and 128, engage able with the shank 129 of each bead 123, allow pivotal movement of the sections 101 from the coplanar relationship illustrated in FIGURE 11 to the parallel relationship illustrated in FIGURE 14.

When the wall 25 is unfolded, corner 131, formed by the edges 102 and the upper edges 106, are juxtaposed on adjacent sections 101 which are coplanar. The edges 106 are thereby arranged so as to diverge from the corners 131 and conform substantially to the underside of the roof sections 22 in their angular relationship so that the roof 21 is firmly and rigidly supported. If desired, sealing strips (not shown) may be provided at the abutment of the edges 106 to the underside of the sections 22 to avoid drafts or penetration of light thereat.

It will now be more clearly understood from the foregoing description that the wall sections are hingedly secured in edge to edge relationship for unfolding into the polygonal configuration illustrated in FIGURES l, 2, 10 and 11 and for folding to the parallel relationship of FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 14 wherein the sections 101 are in face-to-face relationship.

To facilitate folding of the wall sections 101, one of the corner hinge means like 107 is longitudinally (vertically in relationship to its upright position) split into a pair of hinge members 107a and 107b illustrated in FIG- URE 14. For convenience in manufacture, a hinge member like 107 may be longitudinally split after being being unitarily extruded to form a parting line indicated at 132 for the member 107a and at 133 for the member 10715. A sealing strip 134 is provided on one of the parting lines, such as the parting line 132, for sealing the parting line when the members 107a and 107b are abutted as indicated by the broken lines shown in FIG- URE 14.

A releasable locking means, generally indicated by the numeral 136, provides means for releasably locking the members 107a and 1071) together when abutted. The releasable locking means 136 includes a latch 137 pivotally secured to the member 107a as at 138 and accessible through an aperture 139 of a bracket 141 secured to the member 107b, the latch 137 having a hook 142 engageable with the bracket 141 for locking the members 107a and 107b together. The latch 137 is normally biased by gravity into a substantially horizontal position engaging a stop 143 and is cammed upwardly into the broken line illustration thereof by its forward cam end so as to enter the aperture 139, after which it is biased by gravity downwardly to hook the bracket 141. The latch 136 may be manually disengaged to release the latch.

The roof 21 is preferably pivotally secured to the wall 25 to firmly secure the roof to the wall and cause the roof to fold when the wall is folded and also to permit further folding relationship of the roof to the wall as will be hereinafter described.

A pivotal connection is provided connecting each valley 29, 29 to respective corner hinges 107, 107a-107b, respectively, adjacent to a corner 151 of the wall sections 101 formed by the edges 103 and 106. Each hinge member 150 includes a pair of lugs 152 mounted on the inner face of the hinge member 107, each lug having an aperture aligned with an aperture 153 of the reinforcing rib 59 of its associated valley hinge member like 29. A pin 154 extends through the aligned apertures of the lugs 152 and rib 59 to hingedly secure the hinge 29 to the hinge 107. At the valley hinge member 29" which, as previously described, is parted for folding of the roof 21, an apertured lug 152' is secured to each member 107a and 107i) and separately pivotally secured to the depending ribs 73 by discrete pivot pins 154.

A plurality of roller means, generally indicated by the numeral 160, are provided for selectively elevating the entire structure 20 from a surface 161 upon which the structure is supported so as to facilitate folding and unfolding of the building structure. Each roller means 160 includes a roller 162 rotatably mounted on a yoke 163 secured to a cylinder 164 slidably mounted in a slideway 166 secured to the outer surface of a hinge member 107. The cylinders 164 may be actuated by pneumatic or optionally hydraulic means (not shown) to extend a piston rod 167 thereof against a fixed bracket 168 to bias the cylinder 164 and its roller 162 away from the bracket 168. The roller 162, being in contact with the surface 161, causes the force of the piston 167 to be directed upwardly on the bracket 168 and lift the building structure 20 and clear the bottom edges 104 of the sections 101 from the surface 161. Friction of the edges 104 with the surface 161 is thereby eliminated and the sections 101 are more readily manipulated.

A plurality of second roller means, generally designated by the numeral 170, are fixed on alternate corner hinge members 107 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Each roller means 170 includes a bracket 171 secured to a hinge member 107 and a roller member 172 rotatably secured to the brackets 171, the outer periphery 173 of the roller 172, as best seen in FIGURE 14, extending substantially outwardly and beyond the roller means 160 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Operation For the purpose of describing the operation of the instant invention, it is to be assumed that the building is primarily in the unfolded condition best seen in FIG- URES 1 and 2.

If it is desired to fold the building for storage or for transportation to another site, the entire structure 20 is initially elevated by actuation of the cylinders 164 of the roller means 160 to elevate the structure in spaced relationship to the surface 161, as indicated by the broken lines 161' of FIGURE 2 so that the structure is supported on the rollers 162. The valley 29 is then unlocked by withdrawing the pins like 86 of FIGURES 15 and 16 from the lugs 78 through the actuation of the cable 91. The latch 137 of the releasable locking means 136 is then unlatched to allow separation of the hinge members 107a-107b. As a result, the wall sections 101 may be easily separated at the parting line 132433 to initiate folding of the sections 101 circumferentially, and thereby the sections 22 of the roof 21, to the folded position of FIGURE 4, wherein the sections 22 and 101 are in face-to-face relationship. During this folding operation, the roof structure is preferably supported by a crane, or other supporting means, at points midway of the outermost sections 22, whereby the entire wall structure 25 is supported on the rollers 162. When the structure 20 is folded in this position, the roof sections 22 and the wall sections 101 are also in substantially parallel relationship although separated.

As seen in FIGURE 5, the folded wall 25 is subsequently pivoted upwardly into interleafed relationship of the sections 101 with the sections 22, the cross-section of which is illustrated in FIGURE 14. This final folded condition affords an over-all thickness equal to the sum of the abutting hinges 107. In the folded position of FIGURE 5, the entire structure is supported on the rollers of the roller means 170, as clearly illustrated in the figure to avoid contact of the wheel means 160 or the sections 101 with the surface 161 so that the structure may be rolled to a place of storage or to a means for transportation for transporting the structure to a new site.

To unfold the building structure 20, the reverse operation is effected whereby the roof 21 is elevated to remove the wall 22 from the section-interleafed relationship of FIGURES and 14 to the folded relationship of FIGURE 4. The cylinders 164 are actuated to extend the rollers 162 beyond the edges 104 and the wall sections 101 are circumferentially unfolded to the position of FIGURES 1 and 2 until the outermost edges of the outermost roof sections 22 and the outermost edges of the outermost wall sections 101 are abutted. In the abutment of the outer edges, the lugs '78 are engaged within the apertures 82 and the pins 86 are extended by the cable 91 to extend the pins 66 through the aperture 84- of the lug 78, thereby locking the valley 29 to lock the roof in its unfolded position. The locking means 136 automatically locks the hinge members 107a and 107b together by the insertion of the hooked end 142 of the latch 137 into the aperture 139 of the bracket 141 of the hinge member 10711. The cylinders 164 may be actuated in reverse, or deactuated, to lower the structure on the site 161 whereby the building structure 20 is ready for immediate use.

Access doors may be provided to provide access to the interior of the building structure 20. As best seen in FIGURES 2, 3 and 3a, doors in the form of sliding doors 181 and 182 are illustrated as slideable in relationship to a pair of coplanar Wall sections 101. The doors 181 and 182 are preferably positioned so as to abut in angular relationship, as indicated at 183, and each door is slideable as on a track 184 secured to the sections 101. The tracks 184 are preferably split, as indicated at 186, to facilitate hinging of the sections 101 at their panel hinge members 103. Other types of doors may be provided such as swinging doors centrally located in sections like 101. Likewise windows, indicated by the broken lines 187 in FIGURE 2, may be provided at convenient locations, if desired.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom in the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A foldable building structure comprising a roof and a wall, said wall comprising a plurality of rigid and relatively flat wall sections each having a pair of spaced edges, each extending parallel to and adjacent to the edges of an adjacent wall section, wall hinge means pivotally connecting adjacent pairs of said edges so that said wall sections may be folded into substantially parallel relationship with a wall spaced between each pair of adjacent wall sections and unfoldable into a polygonal wall structure surrounding a chamber, said roof including a plurality of rigid roof sections of substantially equal size and each section having a pair of converging edges, roof hinge means pivotally connecting each edge of each roof section to an edge of an adjacent roof section so that said roof sections may be folded into substantially parallel relationship with one another with a roof space between each pair of adjacent roof sections and unfoldable so as to form a substantially imperforate roof structure supported on said wall structure and covering said chamber, pivot means pivotally securing said wall sections to said roof sections so that all said sections may be simultaneously folded into parallel internesting relationship with adjacent pairs of roof sections extending into said wall spaces and with adjacent pairs of said wall sections extending into said roof spaces.

2. A foldable building structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said wall sections and said roof sections are equal in number.

3. A foldable building structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said wall sections when unfolded have alternate adjacent pairs of their edges extending above the other edges of said wall sections, said pivot means located at the upper ends of said alternate edges, and the edges of said roof sections and wall sections when unfolded defining a plurality of vertical planes converging radially inwardly towards the center of said chamber.

4. A foldable building structure as defined in claim 3 wherein each roof section slopes downwardly from one of said alternate adjacent pairs of edges to one of said other edges of a wall section so that troughs are formed between adjacent pairs of roof sections.

5. A building structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said roof includes a pair of adjacent roof sections separable on a common hinge line so as to define a pair of outermost roof sections including releasable locking means operatively associated with outermost sections of said roof for releasably locking together. said outermost roof sections in the unfolded, conical condition thereof and with an outermost edge of one outermost section adjacent to the outermost edge of the other.

6. A building structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said roof includes a pair of adjacent roof sections separable on a common hinge line so as to define a pair of outermost roof sections and including releasable locking means operatively associated with outermost sections of said wall for releasably locking together said outermost wall sections of said wall means in an unfolded polygonal condition thereof.

7. A building structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said roof and wall hinge means hingedly securing said roof sections and said wall sections together in edge-to-edge relationship is continuous and imperforate throughout the length of said edges and including sealing means associated therewith so as to be weather-proof.

8. A building structure as defined in claim 1, including first roller means secured to the wall; selectively extending said roller means beyond a lowermost edge of said wall means and into engagement with a surface supporting said structure for elevating said structure and supporting said structure on said roller means; and second roller means secured to said wall roller means being rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said first roller means and engageable with said surface supporting said structure for supporting said structure in its folded, interleafed condition with said wall sections rotated at approximately 90 to their roof-supporting condition.

9. A building structure as defined in claim 1, including hub means secured to one of said sections of said roof means, at the point of convergence of said roof sections and the other of said roof sections are radially arrangeable around said hub means when said roof means is unfolded, said hub means including an annular flange overlying said points of convergences of all said roof sections when said roof is unfolded.

10. A foldable building structure comprising: roof means having a plurality of relatively rigid, equally sized roof sections of triangular configuration; means hingedly securing said roof sections in edge-to-edge relationship with apices thereof adjacent to each other so as to be foldable into substantially parallel face-to-face relationship and unfoldable into a substantially conical configuration with adjacent sections in angular relationship to each other and outermost edges of outermost sections of said roof means in juxtaposition; releasable locking means for releasably locking together said outermost edges of said outermost sections of said roof means in its unfolded, conical configuration; wall means for supporting said roof means and having a plurality of relatively-rigid, relatively-fiat wall sections of equal size, each section having a pair of opposed parallel edges, a lowermost edge normal to said parallel edges and an angularly disposed uppermost edge conforming to the angular relationship of one of said roof sections when said roof means is unfolded; means hingedly securing said wall sections in edge-toedge relationship of said parallel edges for folding of said wall sections into substantially parallel, face-to-face relationship and unfolding into a polygonal configuration with said uppermost edges thereof underlying said roof means and having a nesting relationship therewith and having outermost said parallel edges of outermost wall sections in juxtaposition; second releasable locking means on said wall means for releasably locking together said outermost edges of said outermost sections of said wall means in its unfolded polygonal configuration; and means securing said roof means to said wall means for simultaneous folding and unfolding of said roof means and said wall means.

11. A building structure as defined in claim 10, including hub means secured to said hinge means of one pair of said roof sections and adjacent to said apices thereof, the apices of said roof sections being arranged around said hub means when said roof means is unfolded; and annular flange means on said hub means and overlying said apices when said roof means is unfolded.

12. A building structure as defined in claim 10, including means on said means hingedly securing said wall sections for positioning pairs of adjacent wall sections in coplanar relationship and adjacent pairs of coplanar sections in angular relationship, said uppermost edges of said pairs of wall sections defining an angular edge nesting with the underside of adjacent roof sections in angular relationship when said wall means is unfolded.

13. A building structure as defined in claim 12, wherein said wall means is octagon shaped in configuration when unfolded and including eight said coplanar pairs of wall sections.

14. A building structure as defined in claim 10, including means pivotally securing said roof means to said wall means, said roof means being pivotable into its folded relationship relative to said wall means in its folded relationship so as to interleaf selected folded wall sections between selected folded roof sections.

15. A building structure as defined in claim 10, wherein each said means hingedly securing said roof sections in edge-to-edge relationship and said wall sections together in edge-to-edge relationship is continuous and imperforate throughout the length of said edges of said sections and includes sealing means so as to be weather-proof.

16. A building structure as defined in claim 10, including: roller means secured to said wall means; and means selectively extending said roller means beyond said lowermost edge of said wall means and into engagement with a surface supporting said structure for elevating said structure for support thereof on said roller means in response to actuation thereof.

17. A building structure as defined in claim 10, including: first roller means secured to said wall means and means selectively extending said roller means beyond said lowermost edge of said wall means and into engagement with a surface supporting said structure for elevating said structure so as to be supported by said roller means; and second roller means secured to said wall means and engageable with said surface supporting said structure for supporting said structure in its folded, interleafed condition.

18. A building structure as defined in claim 10, including sealing means operatively associated with said first releasable locking means for sealing said outermost edges of said outermost sections in response to actuation of said first locking means.

19. A building structure as defined in claim 10, including sealing means operatively associated with said second locking means for sealing said outermost edges of said outermost sections of said wall means in response to actuation of said second locking means.

20. A building structure as defined in claim 10, wherein each said means hingedly securing said roof sections in edge-to-edge relationship includes an elongated socket member having means defining a pair of spaced longitudinal channels and interposed between said edges of said roof sections, each of said roof sections includes longitudinal bead means fixed on said edges of said roof and interfitting said longitudinal sockets so as to be rotatable therein; and means limiting hinging movement of said sections relative to respective said socket members.

21. A building structure as defined in claim 10, wherein each said means hingedly securing said wall sections in edge-to-edge relationship includes an elongated socket member having means defining a pair of spaced longi- References Cited in the file of this patent tudinal channels and interposed between said edges of UNITED STATES PATENTS said wall sections, each of said wall sections including 539 226 Lorenz y 14 1395 longitudinal bead means secured on said edges of said 2 406593 Dickelmg; Aug 1946 wall sections and interfitting said longitudinal channels 5 2652906 Mitchell 1953 so as to be rotatable therein; and means limiting hinging 2:728:115 Cornelius D 8c. 1955 movement of said sections relative to respective said socket 2,963,122 Jagemann 6 1960 members. 2,982,290 Hunziker May 2, 1961

Claims (1)

1. A FOLDABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE COMPRISING A ROOF AND A WALL, SAID WALL COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF RIGID AND RELATIVELY FLAT WALL SECTIONS EACH HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED EDGES, EACH EXTENDING PARALLEL TO AND ADJACENT TO THE EDGES OF AN ADJACENT WALL SECTION, WALL HINGE MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING ADJACENT PAIRS OF SAID EDGES SO THAT SAID WALL SECTIONS MAY BE FOLDED INTO SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP WITH A WALL SPACED BETWEEN EACH PAIR OF ADJACENT WALL SECTIONS AND UNFOLDABLE INTO A POLYGONAL WALL STRUCTURE SURROUNDING A CHAMBER, SAID ROOF INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF RIGID ROOF SECTIONS OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL SIZE AND EACH SECTION HAVING A PAIR OF CONVERGING EDGES, ROOF HINGE MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING EACH EDGE OF EACH ROOF SECTION TO AN EDGE OF AN ADJACENT ROOF SECTION SO THAT SAID ROOF SECTIONS MAY BE FOLDED INTO SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER WITH A ROOF SPACE BETWEEN EACH PAIR OF ADJACENT ROOF SECTIONS AND UNFOLDABLE SO AS TO FORM A SUBSTANTIALLY IMPERFORATE ROOF STRUCTURE SUPPORTED ON SAID WALL STRUCTURE AND COVERING SAID CHAMBER, PIVOT MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING SAID WALL SECTIONS TO SAID ROOF SECTIONS SO THAT ALL SAID SECTIONS MAY BE SIMULTANEOUSLY FOLDED INTO PARALLEL INTERNESTING RELATIONSHIP WITH ADJACENT PAIRS OF ROOF SECTIONS EXTENDING INTO SAID WALL SPACES AND WITH ADJACENT PAIRS OF SAID WALL SECTIONS EXTENDING INTO SAID ROOF SPACES.

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