Foldale house and container assembly
A foldable house assembly that minimizes transportation size and assembly time is provided. The assembly includes a rectangular base, a front wall, a rear wall, two side walls pivotally attached to the base, and two roof halves that are pivotally attached to the two side walls. Each of the walls and roofs has a panel and reinforcements fixed to the panel. Hinges are used between reinforcements for pivoting, and bolts and nuts are used for assembly of the walls and roofs. The panel extends over the reinforcements to provide sealing effects. In a second embodiment, the assembly is divided into a center unit, a left unit and a right unit. The wall between the center unit and the left unit, and the wall between the center unit and the right unit are omitted. The assembly may be extended by inserting center units as needed.
The present invention relates to a foldable house assembly or a foldable container assembly. More particularly, this invention relates to a foldable house that has minimum size when it is folded, and requires minimum assembly operation, when it is unfolded and assembled to its service state.
There have been many house assemblies that are disassembled for easy and economic transportation to the locations at which the house assemblies are assembled and used.
Korean Patent Number 10-0337519 discloses a foldable house that has a base panel, side panels, a front panel, a rear panel, and a roof panel. The base panel has a frame and a bottom plate fixed thereon. Lower edges of the side panels are pivotally supported on the side edges of the base panel with hinges. The front panel is pivotally supported on the front edge of the base panel with hinges. The sides of the front panel are connected with the front surfaces of the side panels. The rear panel abuts on the front panel when the house is folded. The lower edge of the rear panel is pivotally supported on the rear edge of the base panel with hinges. The roof is detachably attached to the upper edges of the side panels, front panel and rear panel. The foldable house has disadvantages that time and labor required for assembly is substantial since the roof panel should be lifted above the side panels, front panel and rear panel after they are unfolded and erected, and be assembled to the erected panels.
A foldable house that minimizes assembly time and labor while keeping the transportation size minimum has been in need for a long time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention contrives to solve the disadvantage of the prior art.
An objective of the invention is to provide a foldable house that has a small size for ease of transportation.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a foldable house that is easy to assemble in site.
Still another objective of the invention is to provide a foldable house that is durable and cheap to produce.
To achieve the above objectives, a foldable house assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a rectangular base, a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall, a first roof, a second side wall, and a second roof. Each of the walls includes a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges connecting between the top edge and the bottom edge. The bottom edge of the each wall is pivotally attached on the corresponding edge of the base. The first roof includes a first edge, a second edge and two side edges connecting between the first edge and the second edge. The first edge of the first roof is pivotally attached on the top edge of the first side wall. Similarly, the second roof includes a first edge, a second edge and two side edges connecting between the first edge and the second edge, and the first edge of the second roof is pivotally attached on the top edge of the second side wall.
When the foldable house assembly is in an assembled state, the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the first roof and the second roof are pivoted upward whereby a space is confined by them. The second edge of the first roof and the second edge of the second roof are fixed on each other.
When the foldable house assembly is in a folded state, the first roof is folded on the first side wall; the second roof is folded on the second side wall; and the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall and the second side wall are folded on the base.
The base includes a front member on the first short edge, a rear member on the second short edge, a first side member on the first long edge, and a second side member on the second long edge. The bottom edge of the front wall is pivotally attached on top of the front member. The bottom edge of the rear wall is pivotally attached on top of the rear member. The bottom edge of the first side wall is pivotally attached on top of the first side member. The bottom edge of the second side wall is pivotally attached on top of the second side member.
In order to ensure a compact size for ease of transportation, the dimensions of elements of the foldable house assembly have predetermined relationships. The front member and the rear member have the same height; the second side member is higher than the front member; and the first side member is higher than the second side member. The sum of heights of the front wall and the rear wall is smaller than the length of the first long edge of the base, and the heights of the first side wall and the second side wall are smaller than the length of the first short edge of the base. In this way, when the foldable house assembly is folded, the second side wall is positioned over the front wall and the rear wall, and the first side wall is positioned over the second side wall. Also, the first roof is pivoted to be positioned between the first side wall and the second side wall, and the second roof is pivoted to be positioned between the second side wall and the front wall or the rear wall.
Each of the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the first roof and the second roof comprises a panel and a plurality of reinforcements attached to the panel. The panel is made of plywood, steel plate, sandwich panel or FRP plate. The reinforcements are made of C-channel steel. A plurality of wood columns are fixed to the panel, and the reinforcements surround the wood columns and fixed to the wood columns.
One or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of each of the pivoting walls and the corresponding member of the base. Also, one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of each of the roofs and the reinforcement of the corresponding side wall. The hinges are fixed to the reinforcements with blind rivets or with bolts.
For each of the walls and roofs, the panel extends over the reinforcements so that sealing around the hinges is provided.
When the foldable house assembly is assembled, the first roof and the second roof are inclined, and the panels of the front wall and the rear wall abut under the panels of the first roof and the second roof, again for effective sealing.
When the foldable house assembly is assembled, joints between the four walls are provided by bolts and nuts that pass through holes provided in the reinforcements and in brackets fixed to the reinforcements.
When the foldable house assembly is assembled, joint between the first roof and the second roof is provided by bolts and nuts that pass through holes provided in the reinforcements, and one or more tension wires are provided between and fixed to the reinforcements of the first roof and the second roof. An inverted V shaped cover is positioned over and fixed to the second edges of the first roof and the second roof for sealing purpose.
A foldable house assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a center unit, a left unit and a right unit. The center unit has a base, a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall, and a first roof, which are similar those in the first embodiment. In the center unit, the first side wall has two columns, each of which has an upper end and a lower end. The first edge of the first roof is pivotally attached on the upper ends of the columns, and the lower ends of the columns are pivotally attached on the first long edge of the base.
The left unit includes a rectangular base, a front wall, a rear wall, a left wall and a left roof. The walls and the roof are pivotally attached on the corresponding edges of the base or the wall in a way similar to the first embodiment.
The right unit is symmetrical with the left unit.
When the foldable house is assembled, the second edge of the left roof is attached to the first edge of the first roof of the center unit, and the second edge of the right roof is attached to the second edge of the first roof of the center unit.
The foldable house assembly of the second embodiment may be extended to a desirable size by adding one or more center units between the center unit and the left unit, or between the center unit and the right unit.
In order to ensure a compact size for ease of transportation, the dimensions of elements have predetermined relationships, similar to those of the first embodiment. As a result, when the center unit is folded, the first side wall is positioned over the front wall and the rear wall, and the first roof is pivoted to be positioned between the first side wall and the front wall or the rear wall. When the left unit is folded, the left wall is positioned over the front wall and the rear wall, and the left roof is pivoted to be positioned between the left wall and the front wall or the rear wall. When the right unit is folded, the right wall is positioned over the front wall and the rear wall, and the right roof is pivoted to be positioned between the right wall and the front wall or the rear wall.
The walls and roofs of the foldable house assembly of the second embodiment are made of panels and reinforcements similar to those of the first embodiment.
When the foldable house assembly is assembled, joint between the first roof of the center unit and the left roof of the left unit, and the first roof of the center unit and the right roof of the right unit are provided by bolts and nuts that pass through holes provided in the reinforcements of them.
The advantages of the present invention are: (1) transportation of the house assembly is simple and easy, and oversize transportation can be avoided; (2) transportation cost is reduced; (3) assembly in site is simple and easy; (4) the house assembly may be used as a storage or a house regardless the location in which it is assembled and used; (5) the size of the assembled house may be adjusted according to storage requirement by addition of units; and (6) Storage and housing costs in the back country are reduced.
Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURESThese and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
As shown in
The first side wall 18 comprises a top edge 52, a bottom edge 54 and two side edges 56 connecting between the top edge 52 and the bottom edge 54. The bottom edge 54 of the first side wall 18 is pivotally attached on the first long edge 26 of the base 12. The first edge 46 of the first roof 20 is pivotally attached on the top edge 52 of the first side wall 18.
As shown in
Referring back to
The dimensional relationship between the elements of the foldable house assembly 10 is explained. As shown in
As shown in
Referring back to
In this way, when the foldable house assembly 10 is folded, the second side wall 22 is positioned over the front wall 14 and the rear wall 16, and the first side wall 18 is positioned over the second side wall 22. Also, the first roof 20 is pivoted to be positioned between the first side wall 18 and the second side wall 22, and the second roof 24 is pivoted to be positioned between the second side wall 22 and the front wall 14 or the rear wall 16.
Details regarding structures of walls and roofs, and joint mechanisms between them are explained. As shown in
As shown well in
As shown in
The dimensions of elements of the center unit 102 have a predetermined relationship so that the center unit 102 can be folded as small as possible. As shown in
The dimensions of the elements of the left unit 101 have a predetermined relationship so that the left unit 101 can be folded as small as possible. As shown in
The dimensions of the elements of the right unit 103 have a predetermined relationship so that the left unit 101 can be folded as small as possible. As shown in
When the foldable house assembly 100 is assembled as shown in
The elements of the left unit 101, the center unit 102, and the right unit 103 are constructed with panels 78 and reinforcements 80 as shown in
As shown in
With the above construction, five house assemblies may be transported with a truck. The house assemblies are fully folded and loaded vertically on a bed of a truck during transportation. Assembly in site may be performed with minimum time, tools and materials since the structure of the foldable house assembly already provides most of the sealing and jointing functions required for assembly in service state.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.
Claims
1. A foldable house assembly comprising:
- a) a rectangular base comprising first and second long edges and first and second short edges;
- b) a front wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the front wall is pivotally attached on the first short edge of the base;
- c) a rear wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the rear wall is pivotally attached on the second short edge of the base;
- d) a first side wall pivotally attached on the first long edge of the base;
- e) a first roof comprising a first edge, a second edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the first edge and the second edge, wherein the first edge is pivotally attached on the first side wall;
- wherein when the foldable house assembly is in an assembled state, the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall and the first roof are pivoted upward whereby a space is confined by the base, the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, and the first roof, wherein when the foldable house assembly is in a folded state, the first roof is folded on the first side wall, and the front wall, the rear wall and the first side wall are folded on the base.
2. The foldable house assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
- a) a second side wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the second side wall is pivotally attached on the second long edge of the base; and
- b) a second roof comprising a first edge, a second edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the first edge and the second edge, wherein the first edge is pivotally attached on the top edge of the second side wall;
- wherein the second edge of the first roof and the second edge of the second roof are fixed on each other, wherein the first side wall comprises a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges connecting between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the first side wall is pivotally attached on the first long edge of the base, wherein the first edge of the first roof is pivotally attached on the top edge of the first side wall.
3. The foldable house assembly of claim 2 wherein the base comprises a front member on the first short edge, a rear member on the second short edge, a first side member on the first long edge, and a second side member on the second long edge;
- wherein the bottom edge of the front wall is pivotally attached on top of the front member, wherein the bottom edge of the rear wall is pivotally attached on top of the rear member, wherein the bottom edge of the first side wall is pivotally attached on top of the first side member, wherein the bottom edge of the second side wall is pivotally attached on top of the second side member;
- wherein the front member and the rear member have the same height, wherein the second side member is higher than the front member, wherein the first side member is higher than the second side member;
- wherein the sum of heights of the front wall and the rear wall is smaller than the length of the first long edge of the base, and the heights of the first side wall and the second side wall are smaller than the length of the first short edge of the base;
- whereby when the foldable house assembly is folded, the second side wall is positioned over the front wall, and the first side wall is positioned over the second side wall.
4. The foldable house assembly of claim 3 wherein when the foldable house assembly is folded, the first roof is pivoted to be positioned between the first side wall and the second side wall, and the second roof is pivoted to be positioned between the second side wall and the front wall or the rear wall.
5. The foldable house assembly of claim 4 wherein each of the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the first roof and the second roof comprises a panel and a plurality of reinforcements attached to the panel.
6. The foldable house assembly of claim 5 wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the front wall and the front member of the base;
- wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the rear wall and the rear member of the base;
- wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the first side wall and the first side member of the base;
- wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the second side wall and the second side member of the base;
- wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the first roof and the reinforcement of the first side wall;
- wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the second roof and the reinforcement of the second side wall;
- wherein for each of the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the first roof and the second roof, the panel extends over the reinforcements whereby sealing around the hinges is provided.
7. The foldable house assembly of claim 6 wherein the hinges are fixed to the reinforcements with blind rivets.
8. The foldable house assembly of claim 6 wherein the hinges are fixed to the reinforcements with bolts.
9. The foldable house assembly of claim 6 wherein when the foldable house assembly is assembled, the first roof and the second roof are inclined, and the panels of the front wall and the rear wall abut under the panels of the first roof and the second roof.
10. The foldable house assembly of claim 5 wherein when the foldable house assembly is assembled, joints between the first side wall and the front wall, between the front wall and the second side wall, between second side wall and the rear wall, and between the rear wall and the first side wall are provided by bolts and nuts that pass through holes provided in the reinforcements and in brackets fixed to the reinforcements.
11. The foldable house assembly of claim 5 wherein the panel is made of plywood, steel plate, sandwich panel or FRP plate.
12. The foldable house assembly of claim 11 wherein the reinforcements are made of C-channel steel, wherein a plurality of wood columns are fixed to the panel, wherein the reinforcements surround the wood columns and fixed to the wood columns.
13. The foldable house assembly of claim 5 wherein when the foldable house assembly is assembled, joint between the first roof and the second roof is provided by bolts and nuts that pass through holes provided in the reinforcements.
14. The foldable house assembly of claim 13 wherein one or more tension wires are provided between and fixed to the reinforcements of the first roof and the second roof.
15. The foldable house assembly of claim 14 wherein an inverted V shaped cover is positioned over and fixed to the second edges of the first roof and the second roof.
16. The foldable house assembly of claim 1 further comprising a left unit and a right unit, wherein the base, the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, and the first roof forms a center unit, wherein the first side wall has two columns, each of which has an upper end and a lower end, wherein the first edge of the first roof is pivotally attached on the upper ends of the columns, wherein the lower ends of the columns are pivotally attached on the first long edge of the base;
- wherein the left unit comprises:
- a) a rectangular base comprising first and second long edges and first and second short edges;
- b) a front wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the front wall is pivotally attached on the first short edge of the base;
- c) a rear wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the rear wall is pivotally attached on the second short edge of the base;
- d) a left wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge is pivotally attached on the first long edge of the base; and
- e) a left roof comprising a first edge, a second edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the first edge and the second edge, wherein the first edge is pivotally attached on the top edge of the left wall;
- wherein the right unit comprises:
- a) a rectangular base comprising first and second long edges and first and second short edges;
- b) a front wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the front wall is pivotally attached on the first short edge of the base;
- c) a rear wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the rear wall is pivotally attached on the second short edge of the base;
- d) a right wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge is pivotally attached on the first long edge of the base; and
- e) a right roof comprising a first edge, a second edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the first edge and the second edge, wherein the first edge is pivotally attached on the top edge of the right wall;
- wherein when the foldable house is assembled, the second edge of the left roof is attached to the first edge of the first roof of the center unit; and the second edge of the right roof is attached to the second edge of the first roof of the center unit.
17. The foldable house assembly of claim 16 further comprising one or more center units between the center unit and the left unit, or between the center unit and the right unit.
18. The foldable house assembly of claim 16 wherein for the center unit:
- the base comprises a front member on the first short edge, a rear member on the second short edge, a first side member on the first long edge, and a second side member on the second long edge; wherein the bottom edge of the front wall is pivotally attached on top of the front member, wherein the bottom edge of the rear wall is pivotally attached on top of the rear member, wherein the lower ends of the columns are pivotally attached on top of the first side member, wherein the front member and the rear member have the same height, wherein the first side member is higher than the front member;
- wherein the sum of heights of the front wall and the rear wall is smaller than the length of the first long edge of the base;
- whereby when the center unit is folded, the first side wall is positioned over the front wall and the rear wall, and the first roof is pivoted to be positioned between the first side wall and the front wall or the rear wall;
- wherein for the left unit:
- the base comprises a front member on the first short edge, a rear member on the second short edge, a first side member on the first long edge, and a second side member on the second long edge; wherein the bottom edge of the front wall is pivotally attached on top of the front member, wherein the bottom edge of the rear wall is pivotally attached on top of the rear member, wherein the bottom edge of the left wall is pivotally attached on top of the first side member, wherein the front member and the rear member have the same height, wherein the first side member is higher than the front member;
- wherein the sum of heights of the front wall and the rear wall is smaller than the length of the first long edge of the base;
- whereby when the left unit is folded, the left wall is positioned over the front wall and the rear wall, and the left roof is pivoted to be positioned between the left wall and the front wall or the rear wall;
- wherein for the right unit:
- the base comprises a front member on the first short edge, a rear member on the second short edge, a first side member on the first long edge, and a second side member on the second long edge; wherein the bottom edge of the front wall is pivotally attached on top of the front member, wherein the bottom edge of the rear wall is pivotally attached on top of the rear member, wherein the bottom edge of the right wall is pivotally attached on top of the first side member, wherein the front member and the rear member have the same height, wherein the first side member is higher than the front member;
- wherein the sum of heights of the front wall and the rear wall is smaller than the length of the first long edge of the base;
- whereby when the right unit is folded, the right wall is positioned over the front wall and the rear wall, and the right roof is pivoted to be positioned between the right wall and the front wall or the rear wall;
- wherein when the foldable house assembly is assembled, the first side member of the center unit abuts on the second side member of the left unit, and the second side member of the center unit member abuts on the second side member of the right unit.
19. The foldable house assembly of claim 16 wherein for the center unit, each of the front wall, the rear wall, and the first roof comprises a panel and a plurality of reinforcements attached to the panel;
- wherein for the left unit, each of the front wall, the rear wall, the left wall and the left roof comprises a panel and a plurality of reinforcements attached to the panel;
- wherein for the right unit, each of the front wall, the rear wall, the right wall and the right roof comprises a panel and a plurality of reinforcements attached to the panel.
20. The foldable house assembly of claim 19 wherein for the center unit:
- one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the front wall and the front member of the base;
- wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the rear wall and the rear member of the base;
- wherein one or more hinges are provided between the lower ends of the columns of the first side wall and the first side member of the base;
- wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the first roof and the upper ends of the columns of the first side wall;
- wherein for each of the front wall and the rear wall, the panel extends over the reinforcements whereby sealing around the hinges is provided;
- wherein for the left unit:
- one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the front wall and the front member of the base;
- wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the rear wall and the rear member of the base;
- wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the left wall and the first side member of the base;
- wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the left roof and the reinforcement of the left wall;
- wherein for each of the front wall, the rear wall, the left wall, and the left roof, the panel extends over the reinforcements whereby sealing around the hinges is provided;
- wherein for the right unit:
- one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the front wall and the front member of the base;
- wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the rear wall and the rear member of the base;
- wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the right wall and the first side member of the base;
- wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the right roof and the reinforcement of the right wall;
- wherein for each of the front wall, the rear wall, the right wall, and the right roof, the panel extends over the reinforcements whereby sealing around the hinges is provided.
21. The foldable house assembly of claim 20 wherein the hinges are fixed to the reinforcements with blind rivets.
22. The foldable house assembly of claim 20 wherein the hinges are fixed to the reinforcements with bolts.
23. The foldable house assembly of claim 20 wherein for the center unit, when the foldable house assembly is assembled, the panels of the front wall and the rear wall abut under the panel of the first roof;
- wherein for the left unit, when the foldable house assembly is assembled, the panels of the front wall and the rear wall abut under the panel of the left roof;
- wherein for the right unit, when the foldable house assembly is assembled, the panels of the front wall and the rear wall abut under the panel of the right roof.
24. The foldable house assembly of claim 19 wherein for the left unit, when the foldable house assembly is assembled, joints between the left wall and the front wall and between the rear wall and the left wall are provided by bolts and nuts that pass through holes provided in the reinforcements and in brackets fixed to the reinforcements;
- wherein for the right unit, when the foldable house assembly is assembled, joints between the right wall and the front wall and between the rear wall and the right wall are provided by bolts and nuts that pass through holes provided in the reinforcements and in brackets fixed to the reinforcements.
25. The foldable house assembly of claim 19 wherein the panel is made of plywood, steel plate, sandwich panel or FRP plate.
26. The foldable house assembly of claim 25 wherein the reinforcements are made of C-channel steel, wherein a plurality of wood columns are fixed to the panel, wherein the reinforcements surround the wood columns and fixed to the wood columns.
27. The foldable house assembly of claim 19 wherein when the foldable house assembly is assembled, joint between the first roof of the center unit and the left roof of the left unit, and the first roof of the center unit and the right roof of the right unit are provided by bolts and nuts that pass through holes provided in the reinforcements.