FOLDING HOUSE AND METHOD FOR CONVERTING A FOLDING HOUSE
A folding house having a housing block and a base block. In one example, the folding house provides that the housing block has a housing block floor, a housing block front wall and two housing block side walls rigidly connected to the housing block front wall and the housing block floor, and the base block has a base block back wall, a base block floor and two base block side walls rigidly connected to the base block back wall and the base block floor, wherein the housing block and the base block can be brought into a housing position in which the housing block supplements the base block, and into a transport position in which the base block is arranged in the housing block.
The invention relates to a folding house having a housing block and a base block.
The invention further relates to the conversion of a folding house having an intrinsically rigid housing block and an intrinsically rigid base block, from a housing position into a transport position, wherein the housing block and the base block are arranged in the housing position supplementing one another.
From prior art there have been known various houses, which are configured in part also tiltable or foldable, respectively. For example, the document WO 2007/033498 A1 discloses a building, wherein a floor, a roof as well as side walls are connected in a foldable way, in order to enable the transport of the building in a folded status in a container, if required. This building has the disadvantage that a conversion of the building from a housing position, in which it is possible to live in the house, into a transport position, in which the building may be transported within a small space, is very complex. Thus, it is necessary to remove all inventory from the building in order to bring the building into the transport position. Furthermore, also the inventory has to be packed for the transport and transported separately.
It is, hence, the task of the invention to indicate a folding house of the initially mentioned type, which may be brought from a housing position into a transport position with only low effort, wherein it is possible to transport the folding house in the transport position within a small space.
Further, there is to be indicated a method of the initially mentioned type, which may be realized especially easily.
The first task is solved according to the invention by the fact that in a folding house of the initially mentioned type the housing block has a housing block floor, a housing block front wall as well as two housing wall side walls rigidly connected to the housing block front wall and the housing block floor and the base block has a base block back wall, a base block floor and two base block side walls rigidly connected to the base block back wall and the base block floor, wherein the housing block and the base block may be brought into a housing position, in which the housing block supplements the base block, and into a transport position, in which the base block is arranged in the housing block.
In this way, there is possible an especially easy conversion, because articles need not be removed from the inside of the base block and transported separately. Further, also an inventory of the housing block may be transported in the base block. Furthermore, only one element, the base block or the housing block, has to be moved in order to bring the folding house into the transport position. In contrast thereto, in prior art folding houses it is always necessary to move multiple elements such as the walls, the floor and the ceiling in order to achieve a transport position. The folding house according to the invention may be converted from the housing position into the transport position in an essentially simpler way. For a conversion, the base block and the housing block may be moved independently from each other. The base block and the housing block, however, may be connected to each other by means of any connecting means known from prior art such as a hinge or a linear bearing, in order to make possible a simple conversion from the housing position into the transport position. There may further be provided a coupling four-way-linkage in order to move the base block relative to the housing block such that the folding house may be loaded by means of a lifting device onto a flatbed vehicle and transported to another position to be again erected there.
The folding house is usually erected on a paved, dry and plane ground on suitable paddings such as timbers or plastic blocks. For this reason, there are advantageously arranged floor support elements on a bottom surface of the base block. These serve as static linkage points. The floor support elements may also be used as form-fit linkage or accommodation for conventional boat bodies or adapted swimming containers. The floor support elements may further be used as linkage for snow or swamp runners in order to enable the arrangement of the folding house on the most varied grounds.
It may be preferred that in the transport position the base block side walls are spaced apart from the housing block side walls by means of air gaps. In this way, a particularly simple movement of the base block into the housing block is possible without any damage to the base block or the housing block, because the housing block side walls pivot along the base block side walls spaced apart by the air gap when the folding house is converted. In a housing block side wall there is in general arranged an entrance area having an entrance door, along which the base block side wall may be pivoted also separated by an air gap in the case of a conversion.
Advantageously, the housing block is rotatably connected to the base block, wherein the housing block may be put over the base block by a rotation about 90° relative to the base block. A conversion from the housing position into the transport position may then be realized especially simply by rotating the housing block onto the base block, for example using a crane or the like. This enables a very fast and simple conversion of the folding house. For the conversion, there may arranged or integrated, respectively, in each part of the folding house lifting lugs for fastening means like belts or chains having shackles that are covered or visible.
The housing block is usefully connected to the base block by means of a hinge. This enables an especially well controlled rotation of the housing block relative to the base block. The hinge generally connects the floor of the housing block to the floor of the base block so that in the transport position the housing block front wall will rest on the base block side walls and the base block back wall. Thereby, there is achieved an especially compact and stable transport position.
The hinge usually has a hinge part, a first external hinge tube, a second external hinge tube as well as an internal hinge tube. This results in a very load-bearing hinge, which is suitable for mechanical loads, which will result from the movement of the housing block. The hinge may also be used for the pivoting connection of parts of the folding roof
There may also be provided that the housing block is connected to the base block in a shiftable way, wherein the base block may be shifted into the housing block. In this embodiment, for a conversion of the folding house from the housing position into the transport position, it is no longer necessary to lift the housing block in order to rotate it onto the base block. Conversion, hence, may be realized, for example, by means of a linear shifting, wherein the base block is shifted into the housing block. This is in general possible using lesser force.
Advantageously, the housing block is formed with a rigid housing block roof and the base block is formed with a base block roof, wherein a step is provided between the housing block and the base block, so that in the transport position the base block floor is positioned over the housing block floor and the housing block roof is positioned over the base block roof. This enables for a particularly simple conversion and, simultaneously, for a stable transport position. In this embodiment, for a conversion, an inventory is usually removed from the housing block, and subsequently the base block is shifted into the housing block. As there is provided a step between the housing block and the base block, direct shifting of the base block into the housing block is possible without any additional conversion measures. Hereby, there may be provided a linear guiding and/or a gear rack for shifting, which connect the base block with the housing block.
It is advantageous that the base block and the housing block are made from timber, in particular glued laminated timber, cross-glued laminated timber, in a sandwich construction or a panel construction. This construction mode is simple and cheap, on the one side. On the other side, thereby, there is achieved a stable construction, which is necessary for a relative movement between base block and housing block.
There may further be achieved a stable and simple construction mode if the base block and the housing block are made of steel, aluminium, plastic material, brick bonding material or steel construction with steel sheet elements, moulding tubes and steel sheet profiles, preferably in a lightweight construction mode. A lightweight construction mode, furthermore, offers advantages in regard to a transport of the folding house as well as a conversion thereof.
The base block and the housing block are usually formed in a framework construction. There may also use so-called cross-laminated timber panels. The folding house may be used in a stationary, semi-mobile or mobile way in order to create housing space. In particular due to the arrangement of base block and housing block supplementing each other in the housing position, there is generated a living and spatial experience for the user, which usually may only be generated in larger housing spaces.
Usefully, a pivoting wall is pivotingly connected to a housing block side wall on an internal surface in order to separate an internal room in the housing position. In this way, a room in the housing block may be separated in a simple way, if the folding house is in the housing position. As in the transport position the base block is arranged within the housing block, it is necessary in a conversion to remove inventory and walls situated in the housing block therefrom. This may be realized particularly simply by way of a pivoting wall. As the pivoting wall is connected to the housing block preferably in such a way that it is flush with a housing block side wall, the pivoting wall need not be transported separately but may rather remain in the housing block during transport. The pivoting wall is usually used for separating a toilet area from the living area.
As an alternative or supplement to an embodiment, in which the base block is formed with a fixed base block roof and the housing block is formed with a fixed housing block roof, there may also be provided that a folding roof is connected to the base block, by means of which the housing block may be covered by a pivoting movement about 180°. In this way, there is achieved a roof of the folding house which is easy to be constructed. A folding roof has shown a good performance in particular with the embodiment of the folding house, in which the housing block is put over the base block by a rotational movement, as thereby a housing block roof usually has to be removed. The housing block in general does not have a fixed housing block roof. Due to a configuration of the base block having a folding roof, before the pivoting of the housing block over the base block, only the folding roof has to be folded from the housing block to the base block, before the housing block can be pivoted over the base block. In this way, there is enabled a simple conversion.
It is favourable if the base block is housed in the housing block in the transport position. In this way, there is achieved an especially compact transport position. In this regard, housed-in means that the housing block surrounds the base block at four side surfaces at least. In particular, if the base block is shiftably connected to the housing block, the advantageously box-shaped housing block may surround the usually also essentially box-shaped base block in the transport position also at five side surfaces.
The base block and the housing block are advantageously formed in an essentially symmetrical way. This has proven to be useful in order to, on the one side, achieve a maximum housing area in the housing position and, on the other side, enable an arrangement of the base block in the housing block in the transport position. The base block is usually configured smaller by at least one wall thickness of the side walls than the housing block so that the base block may be moved into the housing block.
Preferably, projecting housing areas are arranged externally at the housing block. In this way, there may be achieved a larger housing area. These projecting areas may also be used in order to transport inventory from the housing block in the transport position.
Terrace elements are usefully arranged externally at the housing block, which are pivotingly connected to the housing block. In this way, independent of the configuration of the ground on the erection site of the folding house, there may be quickly formed a terrace following erection. The terrace elements are usually formed by plates so that a plane area may be quickly formed as a terrace.
The terrace elements may usually be attached at an external surface of the housing block in a folded position at the housing block. This enables a particularly simple erection of the folding house by the terrace elements being released from the housing block and being folded down, after the arrangement of the housing block at the erection site, until these will rest on the ground of the erection site. Unless the ground is not sufficiently plane, this may also be paved before the erection of the folding house, for example by suitable paddings such as timber or plastic blocks. It has proven to be favourable in regard to the construction if the terrace elements are connected to a lower end of the housing block, for example to the housing block floor, in a rotatable or foldable way.
It has proved its worth that the base block and the housing block, for a static load, are embodied at least with one further folding house that is arranged on the base block and the housing block in order to form a multi-storey building composed of multiple folding houses. In this way, a building of multiple folding houses may also be formed by two base blocks being arranged supplementing one another as an upper floor on a ground floor, which is formed by two housing block supplementing one another. As the housing block in general is slightly larger than the base block, there is achieved a building without any edges or steps, respectively, between a transition from housing block to base block.
In order to generate energy required in the folding house at least in part by means of the folding house, it has been proven useful if pivoting and/or rotatable photovoltaic elements are arranged on an external surface. By the pivoting and/or rotatable arrangement thereof, the photovoltaic elements may be folded or pivoted, respectively, simply to the folding house for transport so that these may be transported in a space-efficient way.
There may be preferably provided that a continuous and sealing insulation foil is arranged underneath a roof foil for insulation. Due to the roof foil there is provided a sealing of the folding house, for example, against rainwater. Due to the insulation foil there may also be achieved good thermal insulation. Such a configuration using foils furthermore is flexible enough in order to enable the conversion of the folding house multiple times without any damage to the roof. The roof may be formed also only by the roof foil.
A directed discharge of roof wastewaters is achieved in a simple way if the roof foil is formed end-sided as a roof water tubing for receiving roof wastewaters. The roof foil usually projects beyond the edges of a top surface of the folding housing, forming a round or rectangular roof water tubing, into which the roof wastewaters will be discharged.
In the folding house there is preferably provided a rotator cell having a rotating tube, through which water, wastewater and electric energy may be transported into and/or out of the folding house. As there is provided, in this way, a central element, by means of which media such as water, waste water, electric energy and the like may be supplied to the folding house, the effort for providing a sealing is minimized, by means of which there is achieved a simple construction.
A rotator cell may have a sleeping area, a wellness area having a whirlpool, a dining area having seating and the like, which are arranged as segments at a base plate that is usually mounted at the rotating tube or rotatably with the rotating tube. This base plate may serve in the dining area as a floor and in the wellness area as a support construction for the installation of a bathtub or a whirlpool. The mounting of the rotator cell or of the rotatable base plate, respectively, is usually realized, on the one side, in the floor, preferably in the base block floor, as an axial radial bearing and, on the other side, in the base block roof as a radial bearing. In this way, a stable mounting of the rotatable rotator cell will be guaranteed. By rotation of the rotatable base plate, a part of the folding house, for example the internal space of the housing block, may be very quickly and in an uncomplicated way re-configured from a sleeping area into a dining area or a wellness area. The rotator cell in general has three segments such as a wellness area, a dining area and a sleeping area. It will be appreciated that there may also be provided more than three segments or only one segment continuous by 360°. A rotator cell having two to five separate segments has proven to be advantageous.
It is favourable if a folding bed is connected to the rotator cell, which projects into the housing block in an unfolded status. In this way, the space available will be utilized especially efficiently. The folding bed may usually be folded up for a conversion in the transport position such that it will not project into the housing area any more. The housing block may then be pivoted about the hinge into or above the base block. By rotation of the base plate, also the internal space of the base block may be used as a sleeping area in a simple way. At a bottom side of the folding bed there may be arranged a folding sofa, which may be used as a relaxation bed, if the folding bed is folded up, for example during the day.
The further task is solved according to the invention in that in a method of the initially mentioned type the base block and/or the housing block may be moved such that the base block is arranged in the housing block in the transport position. Therefore, there may be provided that the base block is moved into the housing block. As an alternative, also the housing block may be moved or put, respectively, over the base block. In this way, compared to prior art methods, there is enabled an essentially simpler conversion, as only one element has to be moved relative to another element, while in prior art folding houses respectively a multitude of elements such as walls, floors and ceilings has to be pivoted, folded and stowed. Further, in such a method, space may be used in the base block, while prior art folding houses do not provide for the utilization of space in the transport position.
The housing block is advantageously lifted and rotated relative to the base block by 90°. This enables a simple conversion from the housing position into the transport position by a rotational movement, wherein the housing block is in general lifted by means of a crane or the like and rotated onto the base block.
The housing block is preferably placed on a rubber padding of the base block. In this way, also in the case of a conversion of multiple times, wear of a contact position between base block and housing block will be prevented.
As an alternative to a conversion by means of a rotational movement, the base block may also be shifted into the housing block in a conversion. For this purpose, there may be provided a linear bearing and/or gear racks, which connect the base block and the housing block.
For a conversion there may be further provided that the housing block is put over the base block. In this way, the base block is usually housed in the housing block in the transport position so that this results in an especially compact transport position.
It has proved its worth that the housing block is lifted and rotated before the housing block is put over the base block. This is advantageously realized by means of a crane. In this way, there is achieved a configuration that is especially simple in the construction thereof, because there need not be provided hinges, joints or the like.
Further features, advantages and effects of the invention will become clear by way of the embodiment examples illustrated in the following. In the drawings, to which there is made reference to:
The
Subsequently, lifting means in lifting lugs or crane lifting points 15, respectively, of the folding roof 4 will be hooked, and the folding roof 4 will be released by releasing the roof threaded-screws 58. In a further step, the folding roof 4 that is releasably connected to the housing block 3 will be pivoted by 180°, so that it will rest on the base block 2. For this reason, there are provided crane lifting points 15 at the folding roof 4, whereby the folding roof 4 may be pivoted onto the base block 2 using a crane. In a next step, terrace elements 5 rotatably connected to the housing block 3 at a lower end will be folded up and locked at the housing block 3. Thereby, adjoining terrace elements 5, 5a will be folded up simultaneously, and terrace locking means 38 between the adjoining terrace elements 5, 5a will be released only after a first terrace element 5 has been fixed at the housing block 3, as is illustrated in
A front sliding door 6 and a lateral sliding door 7 will be covered by the terrace elements 5 so that these will not be damaged during transport. In addition, an entrance door 16, which is arranged in a side wall of the housing block 3, will be covered by a terrace element 5. As seen, a roof opening 12 is positioned in the folding roof 4, through which access to the roof of the folding house 1 is possible, for example using a ladder or spiral stairs. For a sealing connection between the base block 2 and the housing block 3 there is provided a sealing column 21 at a contact position, which creates a sealing connection between base block 2 and housing block 3 by means of a sealing angle 22 and a foam rubber sealing 24. For a conversion, the sealing columns 21 and a sealing mass 23 will be removed between the method steps illustrated in
After the terrace elements 5 have been folded to the housing block 3 and been attached thereto, in the next step the housing block 3 will be lifted by means of a crane not depicted at crane lifting points 15 and rotated about the hinge 26 by 90°, wherein the housing block 3 is placed onto the base block 2. This is illustrated in the
A stable erection site, on which the folding house 1 is erected, is achieved by means of floor support elements 25, by means of which the erection site is paved. These floor support elements 25 may consist, for example, of timber, plastic materials or the like in order to enable a stable positioning of the folding house 1. Within the folding house 1 there is arranged a rotator cell 17, wherein through a rotating tube 46 arranged centrally in the rotator cell 17 various media such as waste water, water, electric energy and the like may be supplied into the folding house 1 or out of the folding house 1, respectively. A flexible utilization of the internal space is achieved via a base plate of the rotator cell 17 mounted rotatably in regard to the folding house. Inside the housing block 3 a pivoting wall 18 is pivotingly connected to a housing block side wall 11, through which in the housing position a separated area within the housing block 3 may be easily created, by the pivoting wall 18 being pivoted in regard to the housing block 3 using a pivoting wall hinge 19. This may, for example, be used in order to form a separate toilet area 20 behind the pivoting wall 18. Before a conversion from the housing position into the transport position, which is depicted in
The
The terrace elements 5 of the upper floor are supported by terrace columns 72 so that the terrace elements 5 movably connected to the housing block 3 of the upper floor in the depicted position may be walked on in a stable way. The roof stairs 68 as well as the stairs connecting a lower floor with the upper floor with the upper floor each have a stair guard railing 70. At the roof stairs 68 there is further provided on the end side thereof a roof stairs pedestal 73, in order to provide access to the roof of the upper floor via the floor stairs 68.
In an alternative to the previously described embodiment, the folding house 1 may also be configured to be folding over. In such an embodiment, a crane having a turning device is necessary for a conversion, by means of which the housing block 3 may be lifted after release from the base block 2, turned again at a height, lowered onto the base block 2 and put there over.
This embodiment of a folding house 1 according to the invention also has a chimney duct 79 in order to enable arrangement of an oven in the inside of the folding house 1. As is illustrated, a roof of this folding house 1 is configured with photovoltaic elements 76 and solar elements 77 foldably connected to the base block 2 and the housing block 3 so that energy required in the folding house 1 may be generated at least in part by the folding house 1. For this purpose, the base block roof 80 as well as the housing block roof 81 each have a receptacle or a roof panel recess 78, respectively, in which the solar elements 77 and the photovoltaic elements 76 may be arranged when the folding house 1 is in the transport position. The photovoltaic elements 76 and the solar elements 77 are usually configured flat and may be connected to the base block roof 80 and the housing block roof 81 in a tiltable way. The housing block roof 81 and the base block roof 89 are each formed by a roof foil 74, underneath which there is arranged an insulating foil in order to minimize the loss of heat via the roof. The roof may also have a detachable folding roof 4, which is positioned on the housing block 3 for transport after a conversion into the transport position. The roof foil 74 is configured as a roof edge water passage 75 so that roof wastewaters may be selectively discharged. In this embodiment, the base block 2 may be connected to the housing block 3 via a linear bearing and/or a gear rack in order to enable the linear movement, which is necessary for a conversion of the folding house 1 from the housing position into the transport position. Analogously to the embodiment examples described above, in this embodiment the terrace elements 5 are usually connected to the housing block 3 in a foldable way.
There may further be provided that one or multiple walls, in particular the housing block front wall 10, are configured as a receptacle for photovoltaic elements 76 and solar elements 77. Apparat from photovoltaic elements 76, there may also be arranged other devices for the generation of energy such as energy generating aggregates, preferably rotatably or tiltably, at the folding house 1, advantageously on the roof of the folding house 1.
In this embodiment housing block front wall 10, housing block back wall 9, base block side walls 8 as well as housing block side walls 11 have preferably also a multi-layered configuration. This is advantageously composed of a plastic panel having a width of 0.7 cm, in general a Senova panel, followed by a ventilation having a width of 3 cm, followed by a oriented strand board having a width of 1.8 cm, followed by a nogging piece construction having a width of 16 cm, followed by a oriented strand board having a width of 1.5 cm as well as followed by a panel consisting of a glass-fibre-reinforced plastic material having a width of 1.5 cm, in particular a so-called GFK-30 panel.
The folding house 1 illustrated has a height of 302 cm at the base block back wall 9 and a height of 314 cm at the housing block front wall 10. In this way, the discharge of roof wastewater is reliably ensured. The housing block floor 14 and the base block floor 13 usually have also a multi-layered configuration. This is advantageously composed of a layer having a height of 3 cm of a so-called 3-layer-panel, followed by a vapour barrier, followed by a nogging piece construction having a width of 20 cm, following the nogging piece construction of an oriented strand board having a width of 1.8 cm, followed by a layer made of TDPL as well as a floor cover having a width of 0.7 cm. As is illustrated, this folding house 1 is also positioned on a floor support construction having floor support elements 25. It will be appreciated that also deviating widths of the individual layers will be possible.
A folding house 1 according to the invention provides for a particularly simple conversion from a housing position, in which the housing block 3 supplements the base block 2, into a transport position, in which the base block 2 is arranged within the housing block 3, so that simple transport, for example on a truck, is possible. This conversion may be realized very simply as only the intrinsically rigid housing block 3 has to be moved in regard to the intrinsically rigid base block 2, optionally after annexes such as terrace elements 5 or a folding roof 4 have been brought into the appropriate position. Further, an inventory may remain in the base block 2, so that it need not be transported separately. In this way, conversion becomes simple and transport becomes especially low-cost.
Due to the rotator cell 17 according to the invention, a variable utilization of an internal space of a building is possible by rotating a rotatable base plate having several segments, in order to, for example, enable utilization of a sleeping area as a dining area 49 or as a wellness area 44 in a simple way.
Claims
1. A folding house having a housing block and a base block, wherein the housing block has a housing block floor, a housing block front wall and two housing block side walls rigidly connected to the housing block front wall and the housing block floor and that the base block has a base block back wall, a base block floor and two base block side walls rigidly connected to the base block back wall and the base block floor, wherein the housing block and the base block can be brought in a housing position in which the housing block supplements the base block and in a transport position in which the base block is arranged in the housing block, further comprising a rotator cell that is rotatable around a rotation axis and connected to the folding house is provided, which rotator cell has a rotating tube arranged in the rotation axis and a base plate rotatable around the rotation axis.
2. A folding house according to claim 1, further comprising a flange-bearing system at the rotating tube a transport of water, waste water and electric into the folding house and/or out of the folding house is enabled.
3. A folding house according to claim 1, wherein the rotator cell on the base plate has a sleeping area and/or a wellness area and/or a dining area.
4. A folding house according to claim 3, wherein the sleeping area has a folding bed and/or the wellness area has a whirlpool and/or the dining area has a table.
5. (canceled)
6. A folding house according to claim 1, wherein the housing block is shiftably connected to the base block, wherein the base block may be shifted into the housing block.
7. A folding house according to claim 6, wherein the housing block is formed with a rigid housing block roof and the base block is formed with a base block roof, wherein a step is provided between the housing block and the base block so that in the transport position the base block floor is positioned over the housing block floor and the housing block floor over the base block roof.
8-10. (canceled)
11. A folding house according to claim 1, wherein a folding roof is connected to the base block, by means of which the housing block may be covered by a pivoting movement about 180°.
12-13. (canceled)
14. A folding house according to claim 1, wherein projecting housing areas are externally arranged at the housing block.
15. A folding house according to claim 1, wherein terrace elements are arranged on an external surface of the housing block, which are pivotingly connected to the housing block.
16. A folding house according to claim 15, wherein the terrace elements may be attached at an external surface of the housing block in a folded position at the housing block.
17-28. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 15, 2014
Publication Date: Jun 2, 2016
Inventor: Roman RICHTER (Gaal)
Application Number: 14/784,814