CA1077670A - Collapsible structure - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE:

A structure that is collapsible from a volume-enclosing, expanded position to a position wherein the walls and roof are disposed in a horizontally extending stack of generally vertically disposed members. The roof is pivotally mounted to an upper portion of a free-standing rear wall (which is operatively connected to the ground in free-standing position), and the front wall is pivotally connected to the roof generally along the front edge of the roof. A floor may be provided having at least a portion thereof pivotal with respect to the rear wall so that it can be disposed generally parallel or perpendicular to the rear wall. The side walls may be mounted to the rear wall so that they pivot outwardly with respect to the rear wall, the rear wall being disposed between the side walls and the front wall when the structure is in collapsed position. The structure may be used without rails; or with rails.
The structure may be placed on or secured to the ground with or without the floor.

Description

BACI~GROUND AND S ll.~lMARY OF THE INVENTION:
The invention relates to a structure that is collapsible from a volume-enclosing, expanded position to a position wherein the walls and roof are disposed in a horizontally extending stack of generally vertically disposed members. The structure can be ~ used for any purpose, and can be constructed of any suitable ; materials (either thick or thin), including sheet steel, aluminum, wood, foam supported by a frame, plastic, and all types of conventional light-weight building materials. The ` 10 structure may be either stationary or movable with respect to - the ground, and in the collapsed position may serve as a fence or like barrier.
- In accordance with one broad aspect, the invention relates to a conventible structure comprising: a free-standing substantially planar rear wall having top and bottom edges extending generally linearly and defining a generally vertical plane; means operatively connecting said free-standing rear wall to the ground for supporting the rear wall in free-standing position; a substantially planar roof having opposed front and rear edges extending generally parallel to said rear wall front and rear edges, said roof being pivotally connected at its rear edge to an upper portion of said rear wall; a substantially planar front wall pivotally connected to said roof generally along the front edge of said roof, and side walls operatively connected to said roof, front wall and rear wall so that said side walls, front wall and roof can be pivoted and folded together into a horizontally extending stack so that all of said side walls, front wall, and roof extend generally parallel to said rear wall; and at least one of said rear wall, front wall, and side walls defining an opening large enough to allow passage of an adult human being in upright position therethrough.

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1077t;~70 In accordance with anoth~r aspect, the invention relates to a convertible structure comprising: a rear wall having top and bottom edges extending generally linearly and defining a generally vertical plane; a roof having opposed front and rear edges extending generally parallel to said rear wall front and rear edges, said roof being pivotally connected at its rear edge to an upper portion of said rear wall; a front wall pivotally connected to said roof generally along the front edge of said roof, and side walls operatively connected to said roof, front wall and rear wall so that said side walls, front wall and roof can be pivoted and folded together into a generally stacked position in which all of said side walls, front wall, and roof extend generally parallel to said rear wall;
and a floor, said floor having at least a portion thereof mounted for pivotal movement with respect to said rear wall so that in one position thereof said at least a portion of said floor extends generally perpendicularly to said rear wall, and in another position thereof extends generally parallel to said rear wall, being disposed in said horizontally extending stack, said floor including a first portion that is fixed with respect to said rear wall, extending generally perpendicularly to said ; rear wall from a base portion thereof, and a second portion, pivotally mounted to said first portion for movement from said one position to s~id another position.
In one embodiment of the invention of this application as described in detail below, this structure is formed with a rear wall which engages the pair of parallel extending rails for movement along the rails. The rails may include a slot with the rear wall attached to a roller in the slot of each rail for movement therealong. Each of the rail sections preferably is provided with a , ' : ', ' . ' flap pivotably attached along its side for pivoting to a position covering the slot to protect the slot against dirt or other material being lodged therein and preventing ready movement of the rear wall.
The roof may be provided with an overhang on at least the front and sides thereof for directing as much rain as possible off of the shed and the shed roof is preferably inclined slightly, sufficiently to shed rain and prevent accumulation of water, snow and the like. Means, such as an air cylinder or the like, may be connected between the roof and the front wall for ensuring that the front wall does not pivot downward too quickly during assembly of the unit.
Many other objects and purposes of the invention will be clear from the following detailed description of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the present structure disposed in a collapsed position;
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the structure of Figure 1 assembled in an expanded position;
Figure 3 shows a top spread out view of the structure of Figure 2;
Figure 4 shows a top plan view of the structure of Figure 2;
Figure 5 shows a sectional view along the lines 5-5 in Figure 4;
Figure 6 shows a vertical sectional view through the structure of Figure l;
Figure 7 shows a perspective view of an exemplary rail section;
Figure 8 shows a part of a further embodiment of the invention assembled as a shed, vehicle garage, or the like, Figure 9 shows a portion of the further embodiment of the structure of Figure l;
Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary detail through an exemplary rail showing a caster within a rail channel.
Figure ll is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a structure according to the present invention, disposed in a volume-defining position with one of the side walls shown pivoted outwardly for clarity;
Figure 12 is a side view of the structure of Figure ll when in a collapsed position, showing one of the side walls collapsed and the other pivoted outwardly for clarity; and Figure 13 is a perspective view of a further rail moai-fication that may be utilized when the structure is to be mountedfor movement with respect to the ground.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Reference is now made to Figures 1-5 which illustrate one embodiment of the structure of this specification. The s~ructure basically includes a rear wall section 20, a rcof .

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section 22 pivotably connected at one edge of rear wall section 20, a front wall 24 pivotably connected to the roo section 22 along the edge opposite the pivotably connection of roof section 22 to the rear wall 20, and side walls 26 and 28. Front wall 24 is pro-vided with a suitably positioned and secured door 25, and a door can be provided in any wall. Side wall 26 is pivotably connected to an edge of roof 22 as illustrated in, for example, Figure 2. Wall 28 is illustrated in Figure 1 enclosing the space within the shed to a position extending parallel to roof 20. Side wall 28 slides along rails 30 and 32 provided on the interior surface of roof 22 in conventional fashion to provide an opening for driving a vehicle into the enclosed space.
The walls may be formed of an suitable material such as fiberglass, laminated fiberglass, aluminum, wood, sheet metal, plastics, etc. and may be provided with any suitable ornamental finish such as a brick, stone, wood, etc, embossed, painted or ; otherwise formed.
Means are provided for mounting rear wall 20 to the ground for supporting the rear wall in free-standing position (without connection to other accessory, supporting, building structures). Such means may include any type of conventional means for stationarily mounting the rear wall 20 to the ground, or means mounting the rear wall 20 so that it is movable with respect to the ground. Such movement-allowing means could include conventional casters 33 and 34 which are movable within rails 34 and 36 for .

moving the rear wall 30, together with the walls and roof attached thereto, along the direction of the rai]s to permit the barrier to be placed as desired or the shed to be assembled at any desired location. Each caster, as shown in Figure 10, includes a roller 37 and brake 39. Rails 35 and 36 may be mounted on a platform if desired. Rails 35 and 36 are preferably formed as a plurality of separate sections which can be interconnected as illustrated in Figure 7 and as described in detail below to form a rail of any given length desired.
Rear wall 20 forms at its upper edge a hinge 38 as can be seen, for example, in Figure 5. Alternate sections of rear wall 20 and roof 22 are bent in opposite directions to form a hinge as can be seen in Figure 4 with pin 40 extending between the bent sections to form a pivotable connection between rear wall 20 and roof 22. The unbent sections of rear wall 20 and roof 22 extend outward to form a ledge 42 which serves to convey rain and the like away from the rear wall and to provide a suitable overhang.
The upper part of the front wall 24 is similarly bent as can be seen in Figure 5 together with alternate sections of roof 22 to form a hinge which is held in place by pin 50. An overhang 51 is provided. Similarly the upper edge of side wall 26 is alternately bent as illustrated in Figure 7 as is the adjoining portions of roof 22 to form a hinge which is held in place by a similar pin. Referring to Figures 3 and 5, a conventiona] air cylinder 54 or other similar means is connected between the front .
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wall 24 and the roof 22 to prevent front wall 24 from falling too rapidly and possibly injuring the individual assembling the unit as a shed. Further, a counterweight 55 is connected via pulley 56, attached to rear wall 20, to roof 22 to aid in pulling the roof from a vertical to horizontal position. Any other mechanism such as a rachet can be alternatively employed.
Figure 7 illustrates one of the sections which form the rails 35 and 36. Section 100 is formed with a slot 102 extend-ing along its length through which the caster mechanism 33 or 34 extends to conventionally permit the end wall 20 and the walls 24, 26 and 2S as shown in Figure 10 and roof 22 attached to it to be moved along rails 35 and 36. Section 1~0 is provided with an eye 57 which can be locked to eye 59 on end wall 20 by lock 61.
Section 100 includes male portion 104 which engages a mating ; 15 female portion 106 at the other end as can be seen in Figure 10.
Thus the sections can be easily and quickly snapped into place.
Cover 112 is pivotably attached along one side of rail section 100 for permitting the rail section to be covered to prevent the slots 102 from being fllled with dirt or the like when a rail section is not being used to move an end wall. Transverse slots 114 are preferably provided at intervals on each of the rails for engaging a forked portions 116 and 118 on the lower edges of the front wall 24 as can be seen, for example, in Fig~re 3 for locking the shed firmly in place when assembled.
Heat can be supplied to the channels formed by the rail sections to heat the interior space when the structure is assembled as a shed.
Vertical flaps or cornice 15i cover the sides of the structure when folded as a fence.
Fi~ures 8 and 9 illustrate a further embodiment of the structure, which relates to the shape of the overhan~ 150 of roof section 152. As illustrated in Figure 8 and 9, by providing an overhang which extends vertically when the structure is assembled as a shed, the overhang 150 will provide a horizon~al surface atop the structure when it is assembled as a fence or barrier which will permit plants or the like to be placed thereon, thus providing greater opportunities for decorative use of the structure.
The embodiment of Figures 11 and 12 (reference numerals corresponding to like numerals in the other Figures) includes a floor 65, the floor having at least a portion thereof mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the rear wall 20 so that in one position thereof the at least a portion of the floor 65 extends generally perpendicularly to the rear wall (Figure 11), while in another position thereof it extends generally parallel to the rear wall ~Figure 12). For the embodiment shown in the drawings, the floor 65 includes a first portion 66 that is fixed with respect to the rear wall 20, extending generally perpendicularly to the rear wall 20 from a base portion thereof, and a second portion 67 pivotally mounted by a conventional hinge-type pivot 68 or the like to the first portion 66, for movement from the Figure 11 to the ~ . . . ,.. . ~ .

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Figure 12 position. A bracket member 69 may be provided (shown in dotted line in Figure 1) for mounting the first floor portion 66 to the rear wall 20, the bracket 69 having first and second portions 70, 71 thereof respectively disposed at a substantially right-angle with respect to each other, the first portion 70 fastened to the rear wall 20, and the second portion 71 fastened to the floor first portion 66. The brac~et member 69 may extend across the whole width of the members 20, 66, or only part way across the width thereof.
The bracket 69 portion 71 can extend past the floor first portion 66 in a direction away from the wall 20 so that it is disposed under and supports the floor second portion 67 when the portion 67 is disposed in the position shown in Figure 12. The first floor portion 66 may have a length (between the rear wall 20 and the pivot 68~ at least as great as the thickness of the roof 22 and the front wall 24, so that when the rear wall 20, front wall 24, roof 22, and side walls 26 (26') are disposed in a horizontal stack (Figure 12) the roof 22 and front wall 24 are disposed between the rear wall 20 and the second floor portion 67.
Especially where the structure is to be constructed of materials having a substantial thickness (such as wood, or foam with a frame), the side doors 26' - Figures 11 and 12 - may be pivoted to the rear wall 20 by conventional pivoting means 74, so that they swing outwardly with respect to the wall 24, whereby the rear wall 20 i5 disposed between the side walls 26' and the roof 22 ~ 10 -10 776 7~

when the structure is in collapsed position (Fisure 12).
The floor section portion 67 may have disposed on the upper surface thereof an upstanding elongated flange assembly 76, extending generally parallel to and adjacent the front wall 2~ and/
or the side wall(s) 26' when the structure is in an expanded volume-enclosing position (Figure 11). The flange assembly 76 may be provided generally for two purposes - to provide a form of weatherstriping (the assembly 76 may be constructed from flexible metal), and to provide an abutment against which the front wall 24 and/or the side walls 26' may rest, and to which such walls may be clamped or locked, if desired.
The means 42' may be provided for facilitating movement of the roof 22 from the positon of Figure 12 to that of Figure 11, as by operatively connecting a counterweight, spring-loaded rod, cylinder, or the like, thereto ~see Figure 5 for example).
As shown in Figure 12, the means for supporting the rear wall 20 in ree-standing position may comprise rail means 35' or the - like for allowing relative movement between the rear wall 20 and the ground. The rail means 35' particularly illustrated in Figure 12 include a pair of rail means (only one being shown in Figure 12 -however, see the dotted line structures 35' in Figure 11), each extending generally perpendicularly to the rear wall 20, and two pairs o~ rail-engaging supports 78 (only one pair shown in Figure 11), the supports 78 extending connecting the bracket portion 71 to the rail means 35' so that the structure is movable with respect - . .

to the ground along the rail means 35'. The rail means 35' may be buried in the ground, as shown in Figure 12.
A further embodimer.t of exemplary rail means 35" is shown in Figure 13 (only one rail shown in Figure 13), wherein an I-beam 79 or the like is supported on the ground by supports 80, and wherein members 81 are provided connected to the bracket por-tion 71 (or like portion of the structure) to allow riding movement of the structure with respect to the beams 79.
Some sort of locking mechanism may be provided for locking the component parts of the structure together in the collapsed position (Figures 6 and 12), such as flange members ex-tending from wall 20 to roof 22 or floor portion 67, the flange members padlocked together; and/or a container may be provided enclosing the entire structure in the collapsed position, or enclosing the container on several dimensions, and the rear wall 20 or like part forming a wall of the container. When rail means are used, electrical wires and the like may be run through the rail means into the structure, and when rail means are not employed, the electrical wires may merely be run in through the floor of the structure (as through floor portion 66).
While the invention has been herein shown and described in what is presently conceived to be the most practical and pre-ferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications may be made thereof within the scope of the invention, which scope is to be accorded the broad-est interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all e~uivalent structures and devices.

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Claims (15)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A convertible structure comprising:
a free-standing substantially planar rear wall having top and bottom edges extending generally linearly and defining a generally vertical plane;
means operatively connecting said free-standing rear wall to the ground for supporting the rear wall in free-standing position;
a substantially planar roof having opposed front and rear edges extending generally parallel to said rear wall front and rear edges, said roof being pivotally connected at its rear edge to an upper portion of said rear wall;
a substantially planar front wall pivotally connected to said roof generally along the front edge of said roof, and side walls operatively connected to said roof, front wall and rear wall so that said side walls, front wall and roof can be pivoted and folded together into a horizontally extending stack so that all of said side walls, front wall, and roof extend generally parallel to said rear wall; and at least one of said rear wall, front wall, and side walls defining an opening large enough to allow passage of an adult human being in upright position therethrough.

2. A structure as in claim 1, wherein said roof has a portion extending beyond the pivotable connection of said roof to said rear wall.

3. A structure as in claim 1 further including means connected between said rear wall and roof for aiding movement of said roof from said stack into a generally horizontal position.

4. A structure as in claim 3 wherein said holding means includes a counterweight.

5. A structure as recited in claim 1 further comprising a floor, said floor having at least a portion thereof mounted for pivotal movement with respect to said rear wall so that in one position thereof said at least a portion of said floor extends generally perpendicularly to said rear wall, and in another position thereof extends generally parallel to said rear wall, being disposed in said horizontally extending stack.

6. A structure as recited in claim 5 wherein said floor includes a first portion that is fixed with respect to said rear wall, extending generally perpendicularly to said rear wall from a base portion thereof, and a second portion, pivotally mounted to said first portion for movement from said one position to said another position.

7. A structure as recited in claim 6 wherein said floor first portion has a length at least as great as the thickness of said roof and said front wall, so that when said rear wall, front wall, roof, side walls, and second floor portion are disposed in said horizontal stack said roof and said front wall are disposed between said rear wall and said second floor portion.

8. A structure as recited in claim 6 wherein said side walls are pivotedly mounted to said rear wall so that when said rear wall, front wall, roof, side walls, and second floor portion are disposed in said horizontal stack, said rear wall is disposed between said side walls and said roof.

9. A structure as recited in claim 6 wherein said floor second portion includes an upstanding elongated flange extending generally parallel to and adjacent said front wall and said side walls when said structure is in an expanded volume-enclosing position.

10. A structure as recited in claim 6 further compri-sing a bracket member having first and second portions disposed at a substantially right angle with respect to each other, said first portion fastened to said rear wall, and said second portion fastened to said floor first portion, said bracket second portion extending past said floor first portion so that it is disposed under and supports said floor second portion when said floor second portion extends generally perpendicularly to said rear wall.

11. A structure as recited in claim 10 wherein said means for supporting said rear wall in free-standing position comprise rail means, extending generally perpendicularly to said rear wall, and rail-engaging supports extending vertically from said bracket member and operatively connecting said bracket member to said rail means so that said structure may be moved with respect to the ground along said rail means.

12. A structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said side walls are pivotedly mounted to said rear wall so that said rear wall is disposed between said side walls and said roof when said horizontal stack is formed.

13. A structure as recited in claim 1 wherein the roof is longer than the front wall.

14. A convertible structure comprising:
a rear wall having top and bottom edges extending generally linearly and defining a generally vertical plane;
a roof having opposed front and rear edges extending generally parallel to said rear wall front and rear edges, said roof being pivotally connected at its rear edge to an upper portion of said rear wall;
a front wall pivotally connected to said roof generally along the front edge of said roof, and side walls operatively connected to said roof, front wall and rear wall so that said side walls, front wall and roof can be pivoted and folded together into a generally stacked position in which all of said side walls, front wall, and roof extend generally parallel to said rear wall; and a floor, said floor having at least a portion thereof mounted for pivotal movement with respect to said rear wall so that in one position thereof said at least a portion of said floor extends generally perpendicularly to said rear wall, and in another position thereof extends generally parallel to said rear wall, being disposed in said horizontally extending stack, said floor including a first portion that is fixed with respect to said rear wall, extending generally perpendicularly to said rear wall from a base portion thereof, and a second portion, pivotally mounted to said first portion for movement from said one position to said another position.

15. A collapsible building or the like structure comprising first, second, third and fourth substantially planar structural members, said members defining a building or the like structure when in volume-enclosing position, and defining a stack of four generally parallel members in the collapsed position; said first member, in the volume-enclosing position, comprising a free-standing wall and including means for providing support of said free-standing wall in a generally upright position; said first member being pivotally connected to said second member along one edge of said second member and said second member being pivotally mounted to said third member along an opposite edge of said second member; said second member comprising a roof and said third member comprising another wall; and said fourth member having at least a portion thereof operatively mounted for pivotal movement with respect to one of said first, second or third members so that in said volume-enclosing position thereof said at least a portion of said fourth member extends generally perpendicularly to at least one of said first, second, and third members, and in the collapsed position thereof extends generally parallel to said first, second and third members.