GARAGES RETROFITTED FOR ALTERNATIVE USES AND RELATED TECHNOLOGY
A real estate unit in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present technology includes an interior region of a retrofitted garage, a reusable bathroom operably associated with the interior region, and a reusable fenestrated barrier also operably associated with the interior region. The reusable bathroom can be removably disposed within or outside the interior region. The reusable fenestrated barrier can be stationarily and removably disposed between the interior region and an outdoor area. The retrofitted garage can include a wall between the interior region and the outdoor area. The wall can include an opening having a width within a range from 2 meters to 7 meters. A path permitting a renter of the real estate unit to move between the interior region and the outdoor area can extend through the opening and through the reusable fenestrated barrier.
This claims the benefit of prior U.S. Patent Application No. 62/273,700, filed Dec. 31, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The following applications are also incorporated herein by reference in their entireties:
U.S. Patent Application No. 62/154,209, filed Apr. 29, 2015, entitled “Dynamic Interstitial Hotels and Related Technology,”
U.S. Patent Application No. 62/222,750, filed Sep. 23, 2015, entitled “School Spaces Retrofitted for Alternative Uses and Related Technology,”
U.S. Patent Application No. 62/310,045, filed Mar. 18, 2016, entitled “Commercial Loading, Storage, Parking, and Vehicle-Servicing Spaces Retrofitted for Alternative Uses and Related Technology,”
U.S. Patent Application No. 62/375,903, filed Aug. 17, 2016, entitled “Commercial Storefront Spaces Retrofitted for Alternative Uses and Related Technology,”
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/140,785, filed Apr. 28, 2016, entitled “Dynamic Interstitial Hotels and Related Technology,” and
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/263,527, filed Sep. 13, 2016, entitled “School Spaces Retrofitted for Alternative Uses and Related Technology.”
To the extent the foregoing applications or any other material incorporated herein by reference conflicts with the present disclosure, the present disclosure controls.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis disclosure is related to real estate technology.
BACKGROUNDBuilding conventional real estate is capital intensive and slow. Accordingly, short-term changes in demand for real estate do not conventionally lead to rapid changes in real estate capacity. For example, markets with high demand for real estate often suffer from insufficient real estate capacity for years before new conventional real estate projects are approved and completed. Peer-to-peer real estate networks mitigate this problem to some degree, but have other significant disadvantages, such as high transaction costs, inconsistent quality, and regulatory issues. Independent of these problems, valuable real estate in major urban areas is often unutilized or under utilized. These and other aspects of conventional real estate represent inefficiencies with the potential to be at least partially addressed by innovation.
Many aspects of the present technology can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The relative dimensions in the drawings may be to scale with respect to some embodiments of the present technology. With respect to other embodiments, the drawings may not be to scale. For clarity of illustration, reference-number labels for analogous components or features may be omitted when the appropriate reference-number labels for such analogous components or features are clear in the context of the specification and all of the drawings considered together. Furthermore, the same reference numbers may be used to identify analogous components or features in multiple described embodiments.
Disclosed herein are examples of real estate units including interior regions of retrofitted garages (alternatively known as carports) and related technology. In a particular embodiment of the present technology, a real estate unit includes an interior region of a retrofitted garage, a reusable bathroom removably disposed within the interior region, and a reusable fenestrated barrier stationarily and removably disposed between the interior region and an outdoor area. The bathroom, barrier, and/or other suitable components of the real estate unit can be configured for low-cost deployment, removal, and redeployment. Use of these components can allow revenue from operating the real estate unit to exceed costs associated within transitioning the garage from its purpose-built use (e.g., storing one or more parked cars) to an alternative use (e.g., lodging, residential, office, and/or assembly use) even if the real estate unit is only operated for a short period of time. Thus, an operator of a network of real estate units may be able to lease a garage short-term (e.g., monthly) from an owner of the garage and retrofit the garage for provision of rentable space to third parties with little or no risk of incurring significant economic loss. Even if the owner terminates the lease after a short period of time or if demand for the newly created real estate unit is lower than expected, most of the capital associated with retrofitting the garage can be recoverable. Furthermore, capital embodied in the components can be readily relocatable in response to long-term and short-term (e.g., seasonal) changes in demand.
Among various types of real estate, garages are particularly well suited to be at least substantially reversibly retrofitted to accommodate alternative uses. For example, garages tend to be well sized for use as individual lodging, residential, office, and/or assembly units. Garages also tend to be remarkably consistent and, therefore, potentially compatible with a standard set of reusable retrofitting components. As another example, garages tend to be unfurnished or sparsely finished in their purpose-built use, which can facilitate retrofitting. As yet another example, garages typically have large openings at ground level. These openings can be well suited for retrofitting to become sources of natural light and/or points of direct exterior access. As yet another example, garages typically have at least one exterior wall well suited for accommodating retrofitted utility connections between indoor and outdoor components. Garages compatible with embodiments of the present technology can have other desirable attributes in addition to or instead of the forgoing attributes. Furthermore, embodiments of the present technology can be implemented in other types of real estate, such as other garage-like types of real estate. Examples of other garage-like types of real estate include storage spaces (e.g., drive-up mini-storage units) and loading spaces (e.g., loading docks).
Specific details of several embodiments of the present technology are disclosed herein with reference to
The real estate unit 126 can include retrofits (e.g., at least substantially reversible retrofits) to the garage 102 that change the garage 102 from being well suited for garage use to being well suited for the alternative use. In at least some cases, reversal of all or a portion of these retrofits returns the garage 102 from being well suited for the alternative use to again being well suited for the garage use. Examples of reversible retrofits include removing, installing, and relocating furniture and fixtures with little or no associated demolition of the exterior walls 104g-104i and interior walls 106a, 106b or other permanent fabric of the garage 102. The garage 102 can be substantially reversibly retrofitted to accommodate the real estate unit 126. For example, a total cost of reversible retrofits to the garage 102 (e.g., a present value of at least substantially reversibly installed reusable components) for a given transformation from being well suited for garage use to being well suited for an alternative use can be greater (e.g., at least 50% greater or at least 100% greater) than a total cost of permanent retrofits to the garage 102 (e.g. modifications to the permanent fabric of the garage 102) for the given transformation. Capital associated with the alternative use can be readily re-deployable after the alternative use. In some cases, the alternative use and the real estate unit 126 are active for one year or less (e.g., six months or less) between successive transformations. In other cases, the alternative use and the real estate unit 126 can have longer durations or even be permanent.
As shown in
The real estate unit 126 can further include a barrier 131 disposed between the interior region 114 and the outdoor area 118. For example, a path permitting a renter of the real estate unit 126 to move between the interior region 114 and the outdoor area 118 can extend through the opening 116 and through the barrier 131. Furthermore, the barrier 131 can be stationarily disposed between the interior region 114 and the outdoor area 118. For example, unlike the overhead door 120, which is typically configured to move on a regular basis during normal operation of the garage 102 in the first state, the barrier 131 can be configured to remain at least substantially stationary during normal operation of the real estate unit 126. The barrier 131 can be fenestrated and can include windows 132 that allow natural light to enter the interior region 114 from the outdoor area 118. The barrier 131 can further include a door 133. In at least some embodiments, the barrier 131 is foldable to facilitate its transport and storage when not in use. For example, the barrier 131 can be foldable along vertical seams (not shown) between neighboring windows 132 and/or between the door 133 and windows 132 neighboring the door 133.
The barrier 131 can be reusable and removably disposed between the interior region 114 and the outdoor area 118. For example, the barrier 131 can be configured to be installed with little or no need for heavy construction and removed with little or no need for heavy demolition. Furthermore, the barrier 131 can be configured to be conveniently transported and reused after its removal. In the illustrated embodiment, the barrier 131 is rigid, portable and configured for rapid deployment into and removal from operable association with the interior region 114 without significant disassembly. This deployment and removal can occur by forklift, by dolly, by operation of wheels (not shown) integrated into the barrier 131, or in another suitable manner. In other embodiments, a counterpart of the barrier 131 can be an assembly of reusable barrier modules configured for rapid deployment into and removal from between the interior region 114 and the outdoor area 118 in an at least partially disassembled state. For example, a counterpart of the barrier 131 can be made up mostly or entirely of reusable modular components.
With reference again to
In the illustrated embodiment, the real estate unit 126 is configured to be mostly off-grid (i.e., independent of service connections to local utilities). This configuration can be useful, for example, to avoid costs and complications associated with utility hookups, to reduce the environmental impact of the real estate unit 126, to facilitate efficient management of the real estate unit 126, to reduce costs associated with maintaining the real estate unit 126 during periods of nonuse or low use, and/or for other reasons. In other embodiments, a counterpart of the real estate unit 126 can be mostly or entirely on-grid (i.e., dependent on service connections to local utilities).
With reference again to
With reference again to
With reference again to
The dock 142 can include sensors 166 (individually identified as sensors 166a-166f) operably connected to the blackwater tank 148, the water reservoir 150, the battery 158, the trash bin 160, the recycling bin 162, and the laundry bin 164, respectively. The sensors 166 can be wirelessly connected to a remote server 168 via the router 156 and a network 170 (e.g., the Internet). The server 168 can include software that automatically processes data from the sensors 166 to determine when servicing of the real estate unit 126 is required. For example, data from the sensor 166a may indicate that the blackwater tank 148 is at 75% of capacity and needs to be drained or swapped promptly. As another example, data from the sensor 166b may indicate that the water reservoir 150 is being depleted faster than it can be replenished via the hose bibb 124 and, therefore, needs to be independently replenished promptly. As yet another example, data from the sensor 166c may indicate that the battery 158 is at 25% of capacity and needs to be recharged or swapped promptly. Over time, aggregate data from the sensors 166 can be analyzed to establish default servicing intervals for the real estate unit 126. In addition or alternatively, data from the sensors 166 can be used to calculate utility usage for the real estate unit 126 for purposes of environmental reporting and/or billing a renter of the real estate unit 126. Each of the individual sensors 166a-166f can be of a suitable type for monitoring the corresponding component of the real estate unit 126. For example, the sensors 166a, 166b, 166d-166f, individually, can be weight sensors, level sensors, or other types of sensors configured to measure fullness of the blackwater tank 148, the water reservoir 150, the trash bin 160, the recycling bin 162, and the laundry bin 164, respectively. As another example, the sensor 166c can be a charge meter or another type of sensor configured to measure a charge of the battery 158.
The real estate unit 126 can include suitable utility lines and other connections that extend from components of the real estate unit 126 within the interior region 114 to components of the real estate unit 126 or other structures outside of the interior region 114. For example, the real estate unit 126 can include a heater/cooler 172 within the interior region 114, and refrigerant lines 174 extending between the heater/cooler 172 and the heat pump 144. The real estate unit 126 can further include an electrical outlet 176 serving the interior region 114, and an electrical line 178 extending between the electrical outlet 176 and the battery 158. The battery 158, therefore, can be configured to power an appliance (not shown) within the interior region 114 via the electrical outlet 176 and the electrical line 178. As additional examples of suitable utility lines, the real estate unit 126 can include a blackwater drain line 180 extending between the bathroom 127 and the blackwater tank 148, a cold water supply line 182 extending between the bathroom 127 and the water reservoir 150, a hot water supply line 184 extending between the bathroom 127 and the water heater 152, a greywater drain line 186 extending between the bathroom 127 and the greywater filter 154, a plumbing ventilation line 188 extending between the bathroom 127 and the exhaust filter 146, and an exhaust line 190 also extending between the bathroom 127 and the exhaust filter 146. The blackwater drain line 180 and the greywater drain line 186 can be sloped to convey liquid waste from the bathroom 127 toward the blackwater tank 148 and the greywater filter 154, respectively, at least partially by gravity. To facilitate this sloping and/or for other reasons, the bathroom 127 can have a floor level at least 0.5 meter (e.g., at least 1 meter) higher than an underlying floor level of the interior region 114. In the illustrated embodiment, the blackwater drain line 180 and the greywater drain line 186 are separate. In other embodiments, a counterpart of the real estate unit 126 can include combined blackwater and greywater lines. Accordingly, the blackwater drain line 180 and the greywater drain line 186 can be more generally referred to as a plumbing drain lines indicating that they can be configured to convey primarily blackwater, primarily greywater, or both blackwater and greywater.
The real estate unit 126 can further include a trash hatch 192, a recycling hatch 194, and a laundry hatch 196 within the interior region 114. The real estate unit 126 can also include a trash chute 198 extending between the trash hatch 192 and the trash bin 160, a recycling chute 200 extending between the recycling hatch 194 and the recycling bin 162, and a laundry chute 202 extending between the laundry hatch 196 and the laundry bin 164. The refrigerant lines 174, electrical line 178, blackwater drain line 180, cold water supply line 182, hot water supply line 184, greywater drain line 186, plumbing ventilation line 188, exhaust line 190, trash chute 198, recycling chute 200, and laundry chute 202 can extend through the exterior wall 104g. For example, some or all of these lines and chutes can extend through retrofitted openings in the exterior wall 104g. In at least some embodiments, these openings are readily patchable to facilitate returning the interior region 114 to garage use if the real estate unit 126 is decommissioned. The lines and chutes can be removably disposed inside and/or outside the interior region 114. For example, the lines and chutes can be temporary and configured for reuse or disposal upon decommissioning of the real estate unit 126. In at least some embodiments, the blackwater drain line 180 and the greywater drain line 186 extend above-floor and then above-ground from the bathroom 127 toward the blackwater tank 148 and the greywater filter 154, respectively.
The dock 142 can include additional lines, connections, and other suitable components ancillary to the components of the real estate unit 126 at the dock 142. For example, the dock 142 can include a housing 204 that provides security and protection from weather to components of the real estate unit 126 at the dock 142. The housing 204 can include a lid (not shown) configured to be open when the real estate unit 126 is being serviced and closed and locked when the real estate unit 126 is not being serviced. In at least some embodiments, the lid includes solar panels (also not shown) operably connected to the battery 158. The dock 142 can further include couplings along some or all of the lines and chutes described above. These couplings can separate portions of the lines and chutes within the housing 204 from portions of the lines and chutes outside the housing 204. Thus, by operation of these couplings, the dock 142 can be transportable as a unit with little or no need to modify internal portions of the dock 142 in the field. For example, the dock 142 can be pre-manufactured with the internal components shown in
The dock 142 can further include couplings that facilitate convenient removal and replacement (e.g., swapping) of the blackwater tank 148, the battery 158, the trash bin 160, the recycling bin 162, and the laundry bin 164. For example, the dock 142 can include a blackwater drain quick-connect coupling 206 through which the blackwater tank 148 is fluidically connected to the blackwater drain line 180 and the bathroom 127. In at least some embodiments, the drain quick-connect coupling 206 includes a check valve. Similarly, the dock 142 can include an electrical quick-connect coupling 208 through which the battery 158 is electrically connected to the electrical line 178 and the electrical outlet 176. The dock 142 can also include a floor 210 having pads 212 (individually identified as pads 212a-212e) that facilitate convenient registration of the blackwater tank 148, the battery 158, the trash bin 160, the recycling bin 162, and the laundry bin 164 with the blackwater drain quick-connect coupling 206, the electrical quick-connect coupling 208, the trash chute 198, the recycling chute 200, and the laundry chute 202, respectively. For example, the pads 212a-212e can be insets in the floor 210 that snuggly receive corresponding lower portions of the blackwater tank 148, the battery 158, the trash bin 160, the recycling bin 162, and the laundry bin 164, respectively.
As shown in
The real estate unit 126 can be furnished or otherwise outfitted with suitable furnishings, fixtures, accessories, etc. to accommodate its non-garage alternative use. In the illustrated embodiment, the real estate unit 126 is a lodging and/or residential unit with suitable furnishings, fixtures, accessories, etc. within the interior region 114 to accommodate lodging and/or residential use of the interior region 114. These furnishings, fixtures, accessories, etc. can include a bed 234, a side table 236, shelving units 238 (individually identified as shelving units 238a-238d), a writing table 240, a chair 242, a sofa 244, a coffee table 246, a television 248, a kitchenette 250, a refrigerator 252, and a set of step stairs 254. The kitchenette 250 and the set of step stairs 254 can be operably associated with the bathroom 127. The real estate unit 126 can further include a closet 256 disposed (e.g., removably disposed) within the interior region 114. In other embodiments, a counterpart of the real estate unit 126 can include other suitable furnishings, fixtures, accessories, etc. As described in further detail below, real estate units in accordance with other embodiments of the present technology can be rentable office units, rentable assembly units, and/or have other suitable primarily uses in addition to or instead of lodging and/or residential uses. Furthermore, rentable real estate units in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can be directly rentable, rentable via a membership system (e.g., in a member-based network of real estate units), rentable under short-term use arrangements (e.g., lodging arrangements), and/or rentable in another suitable manner.
In at least some embodiments, the outdoor area 118 has a paved surface 301 that is not level. The exterior enclosure 135 can include a second mass of self-leveling material 302 (e.g., a second disposable mass of hardened self-leveling grout) underlying the wall components 136. Similar to the first mass of self-leveling material 300, the second mass of self-leveling material 302 can be molded and, in at least some cases, is integrally formed along most or all of an overall footprint of the exterior enclosure 135. During formation of the second mass of self-leveling material 302, the constituent self-leveling material can be of sufficiently low viscosity to level itself by gravity. Thus, the second mass of self-leveling material 302 can automatically conform to slopes, dips, and/or other irregularities in the paved surface 301. When at least partially cured, the second mass of self-leveling material 302 can provide the exterior enclosure 135 with a reliably level surface that facilitates vertical stacking of the wall components 136.
As shown in
With reference again to
With reference again to
As shown in
The overall exterior enclosure 135 can be self-supporting and/or free-standing. As shown in
As shown in
In at least some embodiments, the shell 408 is collapsible from an expanded state to a compact (e.g., at least partially flattened) state. For example, at corners where the first and second side panels 414, 416 and the first and second end panels 418, 420 meet, the given wall component 136 can include hinges (not shown), such as flexure bearings or piano hinges, that allow each corner to fold in a direction that causes the first and second side panels 414, 416 and the first and second end panels 418, 420 to at least partially flatten. This feature can facilitate efficient storage and transport of the shell 408 before and/or after its deployment at the real estate unit 126. In at least some embodiments, the plate 412 helps to hold the shell 408 in the expanded state. As shown in
The shell 408 can include a first side panel 414 and an opposite second side panel 416 parallel to and spaced apart from the first side panel 414. Similarly, the given wall component 136 can include a first end panel 418 and an opposite second end panel 420 parallel to and spaced apart from the first end panel 418. The first and second side panels 414, 416 and the first and second end panels 418, 420 can define an interior region of the given wall component 136 shaped, for example, as a rectangular solid. The apertures 402 can extend through the shell 408 at the first and second side panels 414, 416. Alternatively, the apertures 402 can extend through the shell 408 at only the first side panel 414 or at only the second side panel 416 if the vegetation 140 is only desired at one or the other of the interior and exterior sides of the exterior enclosure 135.
The given wall component 136 can include two of the flanges 400 at the first side panel 414 and another two of the flanges 400 at the second side panel 416. As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second side panels 414, 416 are thinner than the first and second end panels 418, 420 and made of a different material. For example, the first and second side panels 414, 416 can be metal (e.g., iron) and the first and second end panels 418, 420 can be cementitious (e.g., fiber-reinforced cement). The metal composition of the first and second side panels 414, 416 can be useful, for example, for aesthetics, to facilitate magnetic coupling of fixtures and accessories to the exterior enclosure 135, and/or for other reasons. The cementitious composition of the first and second end panels 418, 420 can be useful, for example, to reduce noise transmission through the exterior enclosure 135, for cost savings, and/or for other reasons. In other embodiments, the first and second side panels 414, 416 and the first and second end panels 418, 420 can have other suitable compositions. The package 410 can be reusable and/or compostable. Furthermore, the package 410 can be configured to remain at least substantially intact for convenient reuse and/or composting upon disassembly of the exterior enclosure 135. In at least some embodiments, the package 410 includes a biodegradable skin 424 that contains the planting medium 306. When the exterior enclosure 135 is assembled, the skin 424 can be punctured via the apertures 402. Suitable materials for the skin 424 include burlap and cotton, among others. As shown in
At the wall module 504a (
At a side of the floor module 500 below the wall module 504c, the bathroom 127 can include a blackwater drain hookup 535, a main cold water supply hookup 536, and a main hot water supply hookup 538. At an end of the floor module 500 below the wall module 504a, the bathroom 127 can include a main electrical hookup 540 and a main greywater drain hookup 541. The blackwater drain hookup 535, the main cold water supply hookup 536, the main hot water supply hookup 538, the main electrical hookup 540, and the main greywater drain hookup 541 can be configured for convenient connection to and disconnection from the blackwater drain line 180, the cold water supply line 182, the hot water supply line 184, the electrical line 178, and the greywater drain line 186, respectively, such as via quick release couplings (not shown). At a side of the floor module 500 below the wall module 504d, the bathroom 127 can include an auxiliary greywater drain hookup 542, an auxiliary cold water supply hookup 544, an auxiliary hot water supply hookup 546, and an auxiliary electrical hookup 548. The auxiliary greywater drain hookup 542, the auxiliary cold water supply hookup 544, the auxiliary hot water supply hookup 546, and the auxiliary electrical hookup 548 can be configured for convenient connection to and disconnection from corresponding lines (not shown) of the kitchenette 250, such as via quick release couplings (not shown).
The bathroom 127 can include an electrical conduit 600, and a junction box 602 operably connected to the electrical conduit 600. The bathroom 127 can further include a first plumbing ventilation conduit 604 disposed between the sink 556 and the toilet 558, and a second plumbing ventilation conduit 605 disposed between the sink 556 and the bathtub/shower 560. The first and second plumbing ventilation conduits 604, 605 can be configured to ventilate blackwater and greywater plumbing, respectively. The bathroom 127 can still further include a floor drain 606 disposed between the toilet 558 and the bathtub/shower 560.
The bathroom 127 can include wheels 643 (e.g., swivel casters) integrated into the floor module 500. In the illustrated embodiment, the wheels 643 are embedded within the feet 533 and accessible via inwardly facing openings (not shown) of the feet 533. The individual wheels 643 can be movable between a retracted state and an extended state. For example, the bathroom 127 can include posts 644 having threads (not shown) that engage corresponding threads (not shown) of the wheels 643 such that the wheels 643 can be rotatably moved between the retracted and extended states. Moving the wheels 643 from the retracted state to the extended state can lift the bathroom 127 off a corresponding floor surface, thereby allowing the bathroom 127 to be conveniently moved along the floor surface.
The bathroom 127 can further include a main cold water conduit 645 and a main hot water conduit 646 operably connected to the main cold water supply hookup 536 and the main hot water supply hookup 538, respectively. The main cold water conduit 645 can include branches 648 (individually identified as branches 648a, 648b) operably connected to the sink 556 and the bathtub/shower 560 (via the riser 592), respectively. The main cold water conduit 645 can further include sub-branches 650 (individually identified as sub-branches 650a, 650b) operably connected to the auxiliary cold water supply hookup 544 and the toilet 558, respectively. The main hot water conduit 646 can include branches 652 (individually identified as branches 652a, 652b) operably connected to the sink 556 and the bathtub/shower 560 (via the riser 596), respectively. The main hot water conduit 646 can further include a sub-branch 654 operably connected to the auxiliary hot water supply hookup 546. The bathroom 127 can still further include a main electrical conduit 656 operably connected to the main electrical hookup 540. The main electrical conduit 656 can include branches 658 (individually identified as branches 658a, 658b) operably connected to the auxiliary electrical hookup 548 and a floor heating system (introduced below). The main electrical conduit 656 can further include a sub-branch 659 operably connected to the electrical conduit 600.
The sewage hookup 702 can be a retrofitted access point to a municipal, septic, or other permanent sewage system serving the house 100 (
In another embodiment, a counterpart of the real estate unit 126 (
In the embodiments illustrated in
With reference again to
In at least some embodiments, the method 900 includes at least substantially reversibly retrofitting the garage 102 to accommodate a non-garage use (e.g., a lodging use, a residential use, an office use, and/or an assembly use) at the interior region 114. In these and other embodiments, it may be economically feasible to lease the interior region 114 and retrofit the garage 102 with little or no long-term commitment from an owner of the garage 102. This can be due to the reusability of a significant amount of the capital associated with retrofitting the garage 102 and/or for other reasons. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the interior region 114 is leased month-to-month. In other embodiments, the interior region 114 can be leased under terms that allow the owner of the garage 102 to terminate the lease with notice of less than one month. In still other embodiments, the interior region 114 can be controlled by an operator of the real estate unit 126 under other lease arrangements, under non-lease contractual arrangements (e.g., franchising), or under fee simple ownership. After direct or indirect control over the interior region 114 is established, the method 900 can include subleasing (or leasing if the garage 102 is owned in fee simple) the interior region 114 to a renter. When the interior region 114 is leased separately from other portions of the house 100, an owner of the house 100 can occupy or otherwise use the other portions of the house 100 while the interior region 114 is leased to third parties. When the interior region 114 is leased together with other portions of the house 100, an operator of the real estate unit 126 can separately lease the interior region 114 as the real estate unit 126 and some or all of the other portions of the house 100 as another real estate unit.
The method 900 can further include transporting modules (e.g., the bathroom 127, the barrier 131, the wall components 136, and/or the dock 142) to the garage 102 (block 904). Some or all of the modules can be transported in a compact state. For example, the bathroom 127 can be transported in its disassembled state, the barrier 131 can be transported in its folded state, the wall components 136 can be transported in their disassembled states, and/or the shells 408 can be transported in their collapsed states. The method 900 can further include receiving the modules at the garage 102 (block 906). For example, the bathroom 127, the barrier 131, the wall components 136, the dock 142, and/or other suitable components of the real estate unit 126 can be received at the garage 102 in an at least substantially pre-manufactured state.
After the bathroom 127 is received at the garage 102, the method 900 can include installing the bathroom 127 (block 908), such as by disposing (e.g., removably disposing) the bathroom 127 within or outside the interior region 114. In at least some embodiments, installing the bathroom 127 includes assembling (e.g., at least substantially reversibly assembling) a set of reusable bathroom modules (e.g., the floor module 500, the ceiling module 502, and the wall modules 504) to form an assembly of reusable bathroom modules. For example, the method 900 can include disposing (e.g., removably disposing) the floor module 500 at a suitable location within or outside the interior region 114, and connecting (e.g., removably connecting) the wall modules 504 to the floor module 500 at a perimeter portion of the floor module 500. The bathroom 127 can be disposed within the interior region 114 such that the floor level of the bathroom 127 is at least 0.5 meter higher than the underlying floor level of the interior region 114. The method 900 can further include installing (e.g., removably installing) furnishings within the interior region 114. For example, when the garage 102 is retrofitted for lodging and/or residential use at the interior region 114, the method 900 can include disposing (e.g., removably disposing) lodging and/or residential furnishings within the interior region 114. As another example, when the garage 102 is retrofitted for office use at the interior region 114, the method 900 can include disposing (e.g., removably disposing) office furnishings within the interior region 114.
The method 900 can also include installing the barrier 131 (block 912). For example, the method 900 can include disposing (e.g., removably and stationarily disposing) the barrier 131 between the interior region 114 and the outdoor area 118. The barrier 131 can be installed such that a path permitting a renter of the real estate unit 126 to move between the interior region 114 and the outdoor area 118 extends through the opening 116 and through the barrier 131. Installing the barrier 131 can include installing the barrier 131 in an unfolded state. In addition or alternatively, installing the barrier 131 can include at least substantially reversibly assembling a set of barrier modules to form an assembly of barrier modules. In at least some embodiments, installing the barrier 131 includes fastening (e.g., removably fastening) the barrier 131 to the exterior wall 104h. For example, the barrier 131 can be bolted, screwed, and/or clamped to the exterior wall 104h. Installing the barrier 131 can further include forming the first mass of self-leveling material 300, such as integrally along most or all of an overall footprint of the barrier 131. The barrier 131 can then be installed over the first mass of self-leveling material 300. In some embodiments, installing the barrier 131 includes inserting the barrier 131 into the opening 116. In other embodiments, installing the barrier 131 includes overlaying the barrier 131 over the opening 116. For example, installing the barrier 131 can include compressing the gasket 354 between the frame 352 and the exterior wall 104h. In conjunction with installing the barrier 131 or separately, the method 900 can include stowing the overhead door 120 within the interior region 114 in its open state (block 914). In at least some cases, this includes disabling (e.g., reversibly disabling) a control for the overhead door 120.
As shown in
Operably connecting the bathroom 127 and the blackwater tank 148 can include extending the blackwater drain line 180 between the bathroom 127 and the blackwater tank 148 such that the blackwater drain line 180 extends above-floor and then above-ground from the bathroom 127 toward the blackwater tank 148. Similarly, operably connecting the bathroom 127 and the sewage hookup 704 can include extending the blackwater drain line 702 between the bathroom 127 and the sewage hookup 704 such that the blackwater drain line 702 extends above-floor and then above-ground from the bathroom 127 toward the sewage hookup 704. In at least some embodiments, installing the dock 142 further includes connecting (e.g., removably connecting) the water reservoir 150 and the hose bibb 124.
The method 900 can further include installing the exterior enclosure 135 (block 918). In at least some cases, this is part of retrofitting the outdoor area 118 from being a driveway and/or parking area to being the courtyard 134. Installing the exterior enclosure 135 can include forming the second mass of self-leveling material 302, such as integrally along most or all of an overall footprint of the exterior enclosure 135. The wall components 136 can then be disposed (e.g., removably disposed) over the second mass of self-leveling material 302. The second mass of self-leveling material 302 can be formed and the wall components 136 can be disposed at the perimeter portion of the outdoor area 118 to form at least a portion of the exterior enclosure 135. Disposing the wall components 136 can include stacking and/or interlocking the wall components 136. This can be done, for example, while the shells 408 are in an expanded state. Installing the exterior enclosure 135 can further include differentially planting the apertures 402 to form the brand identifier 404. For example, this can be done using a template after all or most of the wall components 136 of the exterior enclosure 135 have been installed.
The method 950 can further include providing renter access to the interior region 114 (block 954), such as through the opening 116 and through the barrier 131. In this way, the method 950 can include providing access to furnishings at the interior region 114 corresponding to the use type. For example, the method 950 can include providing renter access to lodging and/or residential furnishings (e.g., the bed 234) within the interior region 114 when the real estate unit 126 is operated as a lodging and/or residential unit. As another example, the method 950 can include providing renter access to office furnishings (e.g., the workstation 752) within the interior region 114 when the real estate unit 126 is operated as an office unit. Providing renter access to the interior region 114 can occur by leasing the interior region 114 to the renter, subleasing the interior region 114 to the renter, providing renter access to the interior region 114 through a membership agreement, providing renter access to the interior region 114 through a short-term use arrangement (e.g., a lodging arrangement), and/or providing renter access to the interior region 114 in another suitable manner. The method 950 can further include providing renter access to the bathroom 127 (block 956) and providing renter access to the courtyard 134 (block 958).
As shown in
The method 950 can further include flowing water toward the bathroom 127 (block 964). For example, the method 950 can include flowing water from the water reservoir 150 toward the bathroom 127 via the cold water supply line 182. Furthermore, the method 950 can include flowing water from the hose bibb 124 toward the water reservoir 150 to replenish the water reservoir 150. The method 950 can also include providing electricity to the interior region 114 (block 966). For example, the method 950 can include powering an appliance within the interior region 114 using the battery 158 via the electrical outlet 176. The method 950 can further include swapping the battery 158 with a less depleted counterpart of the battery 158 to replenish an electrical supply to the real estate unit 126. This can include operating the electrical quick-connect coupling 208 to disconnect the battery 158 from electrical connection with the electrical outlet 176. Swapping the battery 158 can be at least partially in response to receiving an indication of a depleted state of the battery 158 from the sensor 166c. In at least some embodiments, the method 950 includes operating the real estate unit 126 off-grid with respect to an electrical supply to the interior region 114.
This disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present technology to the precise forms disclosed herein. Although specific embodiments are disclosed herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible without deviating from the present technology, as those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will recognize. In some cases, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments of the present technology. Although steps of methods may be presented herein in a particular order, in alternative embodiments the steps may have another suitable order. Similarly, certain aspects of the present technology disclosed in the context of particular embodiments can be combined or eliminated in other embodiments. Furthermore, while advantages associated with certain embodiments may be disclosed herein in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments can also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages or other advantages disclosed herein to fall within the scope of the present technology. This disclosure and the associated technology can encompass other embodiments not expressly shown or described herein.
As a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize, numerous permutations of the features disclosed herein are within the scope of the present technology. For example, the real estate units 126, 700, 750 can be implemented at the garage 804 instead of the garage 102. As another example, the real estate units 800, 850 can be implemented at the garage 102 instead of the garage 804. As yet another example, the bathroom 127 can be tethered for waste disposal and/or water supply to a permanent bathroom (not shown) of the house 100 in a manner similar to the manner disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 62/222,750, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As yet another example, an exterior enclosure 135 can be added to the real estate units 750, 800, 860, 870 and 890.
Although features of the present technology are described herein primarily in the context of garages, it should be understood that the same or similar features can be implemented in other suitable contexts. For example, when suitable, a storage space can be substituted for either of the garages 102, 804 in the discussions of the real estate units 126, 700, 750, 800, 850, 860, 870, 890 herein. Potentially suitable storage spaces include, among other examples, drive-up storage units typically used for storage of personal belongings. Retrofitting these and other types of storage spaces for alternative uses in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include combining multiple individual storage units to form a single real estate unit. As another example, when suitable, a commercial loading space (e.g., a loading dock) can be substituted for either of the garages 102, 804 in the discussions of the real estate units 126, 700, 750, 800, 850, 860, 870, 890 herein. Retrofitting commercial loading spaces for alternative uses in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include compartmentalizing the loading spaces using reusable wall components. This concept and other concepts relevant to retrofitting commercial loading spaces are discussed in U.S. Patent Application No. 62/154,209, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Certain aspects of the present technology may take the form of computer-executable instructions, including routines executed by a controller or other data processor. In some embodiments, a controller or other data processor is specifically programmed, configured, or constructed to perform one or more of these computer-executable instructions. Furthermore, some aspects of the present technology may take the form of data (e.g., non-transitory data) stored or distributed on computer-readable media, including magnetic or optically readable or removable computer discs as well as media distributed electronically over networks. Accordingly, data structures and transmissions of data particular to aspects of the present technology are encompassed within the scope of the present technology. The present technology also encompasses methods of both programming computer-readable media to perform particular steps and executing the steps.
The methods disclosed herein include and encompass, in addition to methods of practicing the present technology (e.g., methods of making and operating physical embodiments of the present technology), methods of instructing others to practice the present technology. For example, a method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes providing renter access to an interior region of a retrofitted garage and providing renter access to a reusable bathroom removably disposed within the interior region. A method in accordance with another embodiment includes instructing such a method.
Throughout this disclosure, the singular terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, unless the word “or” is expressly limited to mean only a single item exclusive from the other items in reference to a list of two or more items, then the use of “or” in such a list is to be interpreted as including (a) any single item in the list, (b) all of the items in the list, or (c) any combination of the items in the list. Additionally, the terms “comprising,” “including,” and the like are used throughout this disclosure to mean including at least the recited feature(s) such that any greater number of the same feature(s) and/or one or more additional types of features are not precluded. Directional terms, such as “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “back,” “vertical,” and “horizontal,” may be used herein to express and clarify the relationship between various structures. It should be understood that such terms do not denote absolute orientation. Furthermore, reference herein to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar phrases means that a particular feature, structure, operation, or characteristic described in connection with such phrases can be included in at least one embodiment of the present technology. Thus, such phrases as used herein are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Finally, it should be noted that various particular features, structures, operations, and characteristics of the embodiments described herein may be combined in any suitable manner in additional embodiments in accordance with the present technology.
Claims
1. A real estate unit, comprising:
- an interior region of a retrofitted garage, wherein the retrofitted garage includes a wall between the interior region and an outdoor area, and wherein the wall includes an opening having a width within a range from 2 meters to 7 meters;
- a reusable bathroom removably disposed within the interior region; and
- a reusable barrier stationarily and removably disposed between the interior region and the outdoor area, wherein a path permitting a renter of the real estate unit to move between the interior region and the outdoor area extends through the opening and through the reusable barrier, and wherein the reusable barrier is removably fastened to the wall via a portion of the reusable barrier that overlaps a portion of the wall at the opening.
2-5. (canceled)
6. The real estate unit of claim 1 wherein:
- the retrofitted garage is retrofitted for lodging and/or residential use at the interior region;
- the real estate unit further comprises lodging and/or residential furnishings within the interior region; and
- the lodging and/or residential furnishings include a bed.
7. (canceled)
8. The real estate unit of claim 1 wherein the retrofitted garage is a retrofitted attached garage of a single-family house.
9-11. (canceled)
12. The real estate unit of claim 1 wherein the retrofitted garage is at least substantially reversibly retrofitted.
13-462. (canceled)
463. A real estate unit, comprising:
- an interior region of a retrofitted garage, wherein the retrofitted garage includes a wall between the interior region and an outdoor area, the wall including an opening having a width within a range from 2 meters to 7 meters;
- a reusable bathroom removably disposed within the interior region;
- a sewage tank removably disposed outside the interior region;
- a plumbing drain line extending between the reusable bathroom and the sewage tank; and
- a reusable barrier stationarily and removably disposed between the interior region and the outdoor area, wherein a path permitting a renter of the real estate unit to move between the interior region and the outdoor area extends through the opening and through the reusable barrier,
- wherein the retrofitted garage is a retrofitted attached or detached garage of a single-family house, wherein the house is operably connected to a municipal sewage line, and wherein the sewage tank is not operably connected to the municipal sewage line.
464. The real estate unit of claim 463, wherein the sewage tank is configured to be swapped for removal of sewage from the real estate unit.
465. The real estate unit of claim 464, further comprising a dock removably disposed outside the interior region, wherein the sewage tank is removably connected to the dock.
466. The real estate unit of claim 1 wherein:
- the retrofitted garage includes a hose bibb; and
- the real estate unit further comprises a water reservoir configured to receive water from the hose bibb and configured to supply water to the reusable bathroom.
467. The real estate unit of claim 1, further comprising:
- an electrical outlet serving the interior region; and
- a battery configured to power an appliance within the interior region via the electrical outlet, wherein the battery is removably disposed outside the interior region.
468. The real estate unit of claim 1, further comprising:
- an electrical outlet serving the interior region; and
- a battery configured to power an appliance within the interior region via the electrical outlet, wherein the battery is configured to be swapped for replenishment of an electrical supply to the real estate unit.
469. The real estate unit of claim 468, further comprising a dock removably disposed outside the interior region, wherein the battery is removably connected to the dock.
470-472. (canceled)
473. The real estate unit of claim 1 wherein the reusable bather is a reusable overlay.
474. The real estate unit of claim 1 wherein:
- the real estate unit further comprises a courtyard at the outdoor area; and
- the outdoor area is a former driveway and/or parking area retrofitted for courtyard use.
475. The real estate unit of claim 474, further comprising an exterior enclosure including reusable wall components removably disposed at a perimeter portion of the courtyard.
476-478. (canceled)
479. The real estate unit of claim 463 wherein:
- the retrofitted garage includes a floor; and
- the plumbing drain line extends above the floor from the reusable bathroom toward the sewage tank
480. The real estate unit of claim 463 wherein:
- the plumbing drain line is a blackwater drain line;
- the real estate unit further comprises a greywater drain line and a greywater filter; and
- the reusable bathroom includes a toilet operably connected to the sewage tank via the blackwater drain line, and a shower drain operably connected to the greywater filter via the greywater drain line.
481. The real estate unit of claim 1 wherein the reusable barrier is removably clamped to the wall via the portion of the reusable barrier that overlaps the portion of the wall at the opening.
482. The real estate unit of claim 1 wherein the reusable barrier is portable.
483. The real estate unit of claim 1 wherein the reusable barrier includes a frame and a compressible gasket disposed between the frame and the wall.
484. The real estate unit of claim 1 wherein the retrofitted garage includes:
- a door track at the opening; and
- an overhead door operably connected to the door track and stowed within the interior region in an open state.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 27, 2016
Publication Date: Oct 11, 2018
Inventor: Theodore W. Baker (Portland, OR)
Application Number: 15/390,731