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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a building structure which is portable and
collapsible. The building structure is lightweight and collapsible to a
compact shipping and transporting position. This is accomplished by a
plurality of hinge assemblies that permit the side and end walls, roof and
floor to lie flat upon one another to minimize the size of the building
structure in its collapsed position.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
In manufacturing facilities, it is commonplace to protect parts and
assemblies during manufacturing from airborne contaminants, such as dust,
particles, water, etc., so as to prevent such contaminants from contacting
the parts during assembly or during idle downtime. This is particularly
important in painting, spraying and coating operations which require
extreme cleanliness of the prepared surface before painting, etc., and
protection of the painted surface until the paint has completely dried.
To accomplish this, it is common to surround painting and spraying areas in
a manufacturing facility with an enclosure to retain airborne paint
particles within the enclosure and to prevent other contaminants from
contacting the part surfaces. Such enclosures typically incorporate a
skeletal framework of spaced, interconnected members to which a number of
frame panels, typically rigid members made of steel or other material, are
mounted.
While the use of such a building structure is effective at containing the
airborne particles within a given area or protecting parts from airborne
contaminants, the cost of such a rigid panel enclosure is high especially
since long distances must be covered and considerable installation time is
required to install the framework in the manufacturing facility and to
attach the rigid panels thereto. The high cost of previously devised
enclosures has prevented their use over large portions of conveyor lines
in manufacturing plants and, thus, the parts are left unprotected after
painting, spraying, coating, etc., and between initial surface preparation
and painting etc., and are vulnerable to dust, water and other airborne
contaminants.
Building structures have also been designed for other applications, such as
greenhouses, tents, etc., which use a single, flexible sheet or cover
which is placed over and attached to a skeletal framework. This building
structure also forms an effective containment shield or barrier
surrounding a given area. However, it has been found that it is difficult
and time consuming to install a large, single piece cover to a large
skeletal framework. This increases installation time and adds to overall
manufacturing costs.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a containment shield which can be
installed at the use site in a minimum amount of time. It would also be
desirable to provide a contaminant shield which has reduced manufacturing
costs. It would also be desirable to provide a contaminant shield which
does not require a skeletal framework to be installed at the use site for
attachment of rigid frame panels thereto. Finally, it would be desirable
to provide a contaminant shield which can be constructed in any
configuration for widespread use in many different applications.
The increasing world population (now five billion) has led to housing
shortages worldwide. These shortages are also increasing due to the number
of people left homeless from natural disasters. Accordingly, there is a
need for low cost housing that may be easily transported and assembled
where needed, and later disassembled and moved.
While many attempts have been made to provide portable building structures,
these structures suffer from numerous disadvantages. Many of these
structures are heavy, complex and costly to make, and difficult to
assemble and disassemble. In addition, many of these building structures
require constant maintenance; for example, wooden structures tend to
splinter and constantly need to be waterproofed. Moreover, these building
structures tend to corrode due to air pollutants and rust, rot or mildew
due to adverse weather conditions. Also, many of the prior art devices
require special tools for assembly and disassembly.
Examples of these prior building structures are disclosed in the following
U.S. Pat. Nos.: U.S. Pat. No. 617,043 to Phifer; U.S. Pat. No. 1,062,976
to Jackson; U.S. Pat. No. 1,149,213 to Neuberth; U.S. Pat. No. 1,469,525
to Nadolney; U.S. Pat. No. 1,481,142 to Minton et al; U.S. Pat. No.
2,207,836 to Sundell; U.S. Pat. No. 2,591,984 to Walsh; U.S. Pat. No.
3,189,949 to Hurkamp; U.S. Pat. No. 3,341,987 to Johansson; U.S. Pat. No.
3,434,253 to Hatcher; U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,501 to Zimmer et al; U.S. Pat.
No. 3,562,973 to Gangemi; U.S. Pat. No. 3,566,554 to Schaffer et al; U.S.
Pat. No. 3,781,944 to Gianardi; U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,949 to Wahlquist; U.S.
Pat. No. 3,886,676 to Alfonso; U.S. Pat. No. 4,035,964 to Robinson; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,166,343 to O'Brian et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,969 to Bartlett;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,300 to Lew et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,475 to Berridge;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,985 to Bard et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,684 to Petree
et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,170 to Lew; U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,132 to LeBlanc;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,155 to Nahmias; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,653 to Napier
et al.
This invention addresses these needs discussed above in the art, along with
other needs which will become apparent to those skilled in the art once
given this disclosure.
Numerous innovations for a collapsible structure having shipping properties
have been provided in the prior art that are described as follows. Even
though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual
purposes to which they address, they differ from the present invention as
hereinafter contrasted.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,427
Collapsible toy building
A. Allen Draper
A toy collapsible house. A column of stacked segments supports the house,
held together by a spring tensioned cord, impact triggered release of
which slides stiff cord portions away from segment junctions, allowing
column and house collapse. The column cord is lifted from above the roof
to reassemble the house.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,285
Collapsible structure
Heinrich Wuster
A collapsible structure consisting of an umbrella-like clothes drier or of
a garden umbrella comprises a central tube and a folding frame, which
carries a clothesline or a covering. A flexible sheath is provided, which
is adapted to be slipped over the folding frame when it is collapsed. The
flexible sheath may be sack-like (closed at one end and open at the other)
and in that case may be accommodated in the central tube when the same is
open-topped, or in a storage container, which is open-topped and is
parallel to and extends beside the central tube. Alternatively the sheath
may be tubular (open at both ends) and accommodated in a storage container
which concentrically surrounds the lower portion of the central tube. The
sack-like sheath can be pulled out of the central tube or the juxtaposed
storage container at its top end and over an upwardly convex, annular
guiding hood and can then be slipped from above over the collapsed folding
frame. The tubular sheath can be pulled out of the open top of the
concentric storage container and can be slipped from below over the
collapsed folding frame. A rope or a spring, which is secured in the
juxtaposed storage container or to the central tube on the inside thereof,
is secured to the sack-like sheath and can be used to retract the sheath
into the central tube of the juxtaposed storage container.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,774
Collapsible shelter
Ashley Leader
A collapsible structure adapted to be mounted on a supporting base such as
a motor vehicle. The collapsible structure includes a roller journalled on
a supporting structure and to which one end of a flexible roof panel is
secured for rolling and unrolling. A supporting structure including a
frame comprising a pair of transversely spaced tracks provide a guide for
supporting guide members carried at the ends of the roof panel for
assisting in its rolling and unrolling operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,132
Foldable shelter system and method of construction
J. T. LeBlanc
A habitable shelter and method of construction having a continuous floor
portion with a plurality of four exterior walls attached to the floor
portion via a hinge means along contiguous sides, the walls movable
between horizontal positions along the floor to vertical upright wall
positions. There is further provided means for allowing the walls to lay
parallel to the floor, with the end walls foldable atop the side walls,
and a plurality of exterior walls stacked between the folded end walls for
compact storage for shipment. There is further provided a plurality of
corner beam members for stabilizing the walls in their upright position in
interlocking fashion, and a roof member positioned atop the vertical walls
for defining an angulated roof on the structure. There is further provided
a plurality of interior walls which in their upright position are doweled
into the floor portion and interlocked into the side walls for further
support.
5,107,639
Portable and collapsible building structure
J. Cecil Morin, and James A. Loggie
A portable and collapsible building structure including a floor, a pair of
side walls, a roof and a pair of end walls. The side walls each include a
lower and upper panel pivotally coupled at their inner edges by a first
hinge assembly. The outer edges of the side walls are pivotally coupled to
the floor and roof by a second hinge assembly. The end walls are pivotally
coupled to the roof by a third hinge assembly and releasably coupled to
the floor and side walls by a C-shaped coupling chip. The first, second
and third hinge assemblies permit the building structure to collapse so
that the upper and lower panels of each side wall lie substantially flat
between the floor and the roof, while the end walls pivot 270 degree. So
as to lie substantially flat upon the roof. The first, second and third
hinge assemblies include a plurality of one-piece, extruded, coupling
channels, a plurality of hinge inserts, at least one hinge pin, and a
C-shaped coupling clip.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,778
Contaminant shield and method of constructing same
Ronald R. Pohl
A contaminant shield prevents airborne contaminants from contacting
manufactured parts in a work area in a manufacturing facility. The
contaminant shield is formed of a plurality of like frames, each formed of
a plurality of interconnected side frame members covered by a flexible
sheet attached at its outer edges to the side frame members. The frames
are interconnected at adjacent edges to form the complete contaminant
shield. A sealing strip is applied to the joints between adjacent frames
to form a continuous contaminant barrier in conjunction with the flexible
sheet attached to each frame. The contaminant shield is constructed by
first constructing a plurality of frames by interconnecting side frame
members into a rigid, planar frame and attaching the edges of a flexible
sheet to each side frame member of the frame. Each of the side frame
members includes an aperture which receives a complimentrally shaped cap
which traps the edges of the flexible sheet between itself and the
aperture in the side frame for securely attaching the flexible sheet to
the side frame.
Numerous innovations for a collapsible structure having shipping properties
have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Even
though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual
purposes to which they address, they would not be suitable for the
purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The collapsible structure having shipping properties of the present
invention is formed of a plurality of frames of a configuration which are
interconnected in a predetermined configuration to surround or cover an
area. The frames are formed of a plurality of hinged end, side and roof
frame members which are joined together into an integal, planar assembly
having a predetermined shape. The side frame members surround an interior
opening.
A plurality of such frames, having the same or different configuration are
interconnected together to form a collapsible structure having shipping
properties having any desired shape. For example, a plurality of frame
members may be interconnected to form a three-sided floor-mounted
enclosure having opposed side walls joined together by a top. Similarly,
the frame members may be joined together to form an elongated planar cover
having depending side walls which covers a work area in a manufacturing
facility.
In one embodiment, means for attaching the edges of a flexible sheet to the
side frame members of a frame are provided. Preferably, the attaching
means comprises each side frame member having opposed side walls joined
together at one end by an integral, central portion. The opposite ends of
the side walls are each formed with an inwardly and downwardly hinge, with
the inner faces of the hinge being spaced apart to define an aperture
opening into the hollow interior of each side frame member. A member has
first and second end portions, with the first end portion being
complimentary shaped to the configuration of the aperture in the side
frame members. The second end portion of the member has an enlarged cross
section with hinge extending outward from the first end portion. The first
end portion of a member is inserted into the aperture in a side frame
member to trap an edge of the sheet between first end portion and the side
frame member to securely attach the sheet to the side frame member.
Members are inserted into the remaining side frame members of a frame to
securely attach the sheet to the frame.
After the collapsible structure having shipping properties are constructed
at the manufacturing facility, they are shipped to the use site and
arranged to be formed having a predetermined configuration. After the
frames are joined together as described above to form an enclosure,
shield, cover, etc., the joints between adjacent side frame members of
adjacent frames are sealed by a hinge, for example, to provide a
continuous, protrusion free surface in conjunction with the sheet which
provides no dust collection surfaces within or under the contaminant
shield and effectively blocks the interior space enclosed or covered by
the contaminant shield from airborne contaminants, such as particles,
dust, water, etc.
In a preferred embodiment, each of the side frame members has opposed side
walls interconnected by a central portion. In attaching the sheet to the
frame according to the method of the present invention, the sheet is first
loosely placed over one entire side of the frame covering all of the side
frame members. Tension is applied to one edge of the sheet while the cap
member is slidably inserted into one of the side frame members trapping
the edge of the sheet between itself and the side frame member.
The collapsible structure having shipping properties of the present
invention provides many unique advantages in constructing collapsible
structure having shipping properties or barriers for manufacturing
facilities since it minimizes installation time and has a reduced
manufacturing cost. By constructing the individual frames at the frame
manufacturing site, the need for constructing and installing a skeletal
frame at the use site is eliminated. This reduces installation time. Also,
the advantages of mass production of identical or nearly identical frames
is attained thereby reducing the overall manufacturing cost of the
collapsible structure having shipping properties. Since the collapsible
structure having shipping properties of the present invention finds
advantageous use with conveyor lines or other elongated work areas, the
collapsible structure having shipping properties will contain a large
number of identical frames thereby enabling the economies of mass
production of the identical modular frames at the frame manufacturing site
to be realized.
The collapsible structure having shipping properties of the present
invention, once installed at the use site, provides an effective barrier
which prevents airborne contaminants, such as dust, particles, water etc.,
from contacting work parts or assemblies in a given area within a
manufacturing facility.
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a
building structure which is readily and easily assembled and disassembled
without the need of any tools.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible
structure having shipping properties that is portable.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible
structure having shipping properties that is lightweight and very strong.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible
structure having shipping properties that is very compact so that it can
be easily transported.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible
structure having shipping properties that has very low maintenance.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible
structure having shipping properties that will not rust, rot or mildew and
is highly resistant to most weather conditions.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible
structure having shipping properties that is relatively inexpensive to
manufacture and uses a series of extruded channels to form the required
hinges.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide hinge assemblies
that require relatively no assembly.
Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken
in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
The novel features which are considered characteristic for the invention
are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both
as to its construction and its method of operation, together with
additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from
the following description of the specific embodiments when read and
understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING
10--collapsible structure having improved shipping and storing properties
12--hinge
14--front end
16--door
18--front end edge
20--piano hinge
22--downward direction
24--right roof
26--right upper side
28--right lower side
30--rear end
32--floor
34--left roof
36--left upper side
38--left lower side
40--left inward direction
42--right inward direction
44--inward collapsible direction
46--front door
48--downward collapsible direction
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG.1 is a perspective view of the collapsible structure having improved
shipping and storing properties fully erected exhibiting the following
features; hinge, front end, door, front end edge, piano hinge, right roof,
right upper side, right lower side, floor, and left roof.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the collapsible structure in the initiation
collapsing stage having improved shipping and storing properties
exhibiting the following features; hinge, front end, door, front end edge,
piano hinge, downward direction, right roof, right upper side, right lower
side, rear end, floor, left roof, left upper side, left lower side, and
front door.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a collapsible structure in the collapsing
stage having improved shipping and storing properties exhibiting features
such as a hinge, front end, piano hinge, downward direction, right roof,
right upper side, right lower side, left roof, left upper side, left lower
side, left inward direction, right inward direction, inward collapsible
direction, and front door.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a collapsible structure in the fully
collapsed configuration for storing and shipping exhibiting the following
features; hinge, piano hinge, right roof, right upper side, right lower
side, floor, left roof, left upper side, left lower side, and downward
collapsible direction.
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the method by which the
structure is erected and collapsed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Firstly, referring to FIG. 1 which is a perspective view of the collapsible
structure having improved shipping and storing properties 10 fully erected
exhibiting the following features; hinge 12, front end 14, door 16, front
end edge 18, piano hinge 20, right roof 24, right upper side 26, right
lower side 28, floor 32, and left roof 34. The collapsible structure 10 is
easily assembled and disassembled in minutes by the method as exhibited in
FIGS. 2,3 and 4.
Referring now to FIG. 2 which is a perspective view of the collapsible
structure 10 in the initiation collapsing stage having improved shipping
and storing properties exhibiting the following features; hinge 12, front
end 14, door 16, front end edge 18, piano hinge 20, downward direction 22,
right roof 24, right upper side 26, right lower side 28, rear end 30,
floor 32, left roof 34, left lapper side 36, left lower side 38, and door
opening 46. To commence the collapsing of the structure 10, first push the
front end 14 in a downward direction 22 followed by pushing secondly the
rear end 30 in a similar downward direction 22, thus collapsing the front
end 16 and/or rear end 30 on top of one another.
Referring now to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 which are a perspective view of a
collapsible structure 10 and a method of collapsing, respectively, in the
collapsing stage having improved shipping and storing properties
exhibiting features such as a hinge 12, front end 14, piano hinge 20,
downward direction 22, right roof 24, right upper side 26, right lower
side 28, left roof 30, left upper side 36, left lower side 38, left inward
direction 40, right inward direction 42, inward collapsible direction 44,
and door opening 46. After the front end 16 and rear end 30 have been
fully collapsed, the third step is simultaneously collapsing the left side
and right side in a left inward direction 40 and right inward direction 42
respectively, hence, lowering the left roof 34 and right roof 24.
Lastly, referring to FIG. 4 and which is a perspective view of a
collapsible structure 10 in the fully collapsed configuration for storing
and shipping exhibiting the following features; hinge 12, piano hinge 20,
right roof 24, right upper side 26, right lower side 28, floor 32, left
roof 34, left upper side 36, left lower side 38, and downward collapsible
direction 48. When the collapsible structure 10 is fully collapsed, it is
in a compact configuration having the right roof 24 directly on top of the
right upper side 26 which is directly on top of the right lower side 28
which is directly on top of one half of the front end 14 and rear end 30
which are directly on top of one half of the floor 32. Similarly, when the
collapsible structure 10 is fully collapsed, it is in a compact
configuration having the left roof 34 directly on top of the left upper
side 36 which is directly on top of the left lower side 38 which is
directly on top of one half of the front end 14 and rear end 30 which are
directly on top of one half of the floor 32. All parts of the collapsible
structure are collapsible by virtue of hinges 12 and 20 which may be of
varying configurations and types depending upon varying preferred
embodiments of the present invention.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or
more together, may also find a useful application in other types of
constructions differing from the type described above.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a
collapsible structure having improved shipping and storage properties, it
is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since it will be
understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and
changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its
operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any
way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of
the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,
readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that,
from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential
characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.
What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set
forth in the appended claims.
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