TWO-DIRECTION EXPANDABLE MOBILE HOUSE

Abstract

A two-direction expandable mobile house can be configured, for example, as a recreational vehicle or similar type of mobile home. The expandable mobile house can include a main body structure, two expandable structures including sliding wall panels, floor panels with hinges, and expansion mechanisms. The outside walls can be driven out by some hydraulic rods or by other mechanisms that can provide the same function connection linkages. The expandable floor panels can be stowed folded vertically. They can be connected to the main body frame with hinges. Small side wall panels can be designed to slide out from the main body frame. A flexible roof is able to be folded back into the main frame. The roof can include two inner boards for covering the expanded rooms.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to expandable homes. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to a mobile house that can be expanded in two directions.

2. Description of Prior Art and Related Information

The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.

A mobile house or recreational vehicle are both developed to be expandable. Typically, such structures include one or more slide out that can slide outward from the main structure to expand the living space. Often, expansion may occur on one side of the main structure, while some such mobile structures may expand on opposing sides. The size of such slide outs is often limited to the space they occupy when in their stowed configurations.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an expandable main structure that may be movable, where the expandable main structure can expend in two directions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention aim to solve the aforementioned problems in conventional expandable structures.

A two-direction expanding method can avoid house type distribution troubles. Expandable mechanisms for expansion in two directions will offer more flexible interior design. People will have a better space utilization in such mobile houses. Expanding the house in two directions is relatively more complicated than one direction expanding, wherein the wall panels and floor panels need to be well designed.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an expandable structure transformable between a stowed state and an expanded state comprising a main structure; a first expanded section, the first expansion section expandable outward in a first direction from the main structure; a second expanded section, the second expansion section expandable outward, in a second direction different from the first direction, from the main structure; and a third expanded section created at a corner intersection of the first expanded section and the second expanded section, the third expanded section formed when the expanded structure is in an expanded state.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an expandable structure transformable between a stowed state and an expanded state comprising a main structure; a first expanded section, the first expansion section expandable outward in a first direction from the main structure; a second expanded section, the second expansion section expandable outward, in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, from the main structure; a third expanded section created at a corner intersection of the first expanded section and the second expanded section, the third expanded section formed when the expanded structure is in an expanded state; a first roof member covering a main structure in the expanded state; a second roof member covering the first expanded section in the expanded state; a third roof member covering the second expanded section in the expanded state; and a fourth roof member covering the third expanded section in the expanded state, wherein the second roof member at least partially nests with the first roof member in the stowed state; the third roof member at least partially nests within a slot in the first roof member in the stowed state; and the fourth roof member at least partially nests within a slot the second roof member in the stowed state.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an expandable structure transformable between a stowed state and an expanded state comprising a main structure; a first expanded section, the first expansion section expandable outward in a first direction from the main structure; a second expanded section, the second expansion section expandable outward, in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, from the main structure; a third expanded section created at a corner intersection of the first expanded section and the second expanded section, the third expanded section formed when the expanded structure is in an expanded state; a first floor member forming a first expanded floor surface in the first expanded section when the expandable structure is in the expanded state; a second floor member forming a second expanded floor surface in the second expanded section when the expandable structure is in the expanded state; and a compact floor portion stored within the first floor member of the first expanded section, wherein the first floor portion is pivotably attached to the main structure on an interior end thereof and is pivotably attached to an outer wall of the first expanded sections; the second floor portion is pivotably attached to the main structure on an interior end thereof and is pivotably attached to an outer wall of the second expanded sections; each of the first and second floor portions slidingly engages respective outer walls of respective first and second expanded sections; and the compact floor is expandable to form a third floor surface of the third expanded section.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements.

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a mobile house in a stowed state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of the mobile house of FIG. 1A in an expanded state;

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart showing an exemplary step-wise expansion of the mobile house of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top perspective view of the expanded mobile house of FIG. 1B with a portion of the roof removed for clarity;

FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed perspective view of a mechanism used for sliding slide walls for the expansion of the mobile house of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 5A illustrates a cross sectional view taken along line VA-VA of FIG. 3, illustrating a floor portion moving with the expansion of a side wall;

FIG. 5B illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line VB-VB of FIG. 3, illustrating another floor portion moving with the expansion of a side wall;

FIG. 5C illustrates a pivot/sliding connector disposed at an end of the floor portions of FIGS. 5A and 5B;

FIG. 5D illustrates a slide track disposed in the moving outer wall upon which the pivot/sliding connector slides as the outer wall is expanded and retracted;

FIG. 6A illustrates a floor section in a partially expanded state, including two pivoting floor panels and one lifted floor panel;

FIG. 6B illustrates a lift mechanism supporting the lifted floor panel and movable during expansion of the pivoting floor panels of the floor section of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A illustrates a cut-away view detailing a roof structure during a first slide out activity;

FIG. 7B illustrates a cut-away view of the roof structure of FIG. 7A once the first slide out activity is completed;

FIG. 8A illustrates a cut-away view detailing a roof structure during a second slide out activity; and

FIG. 8B illustrates a cut-away view of the roof structure of FIG. 8A once the second slide out activity is completed, showing an interconnection mechanism for the sliding roof panels.

The illustrations in the figures may not necessarily be drawn to scale.

The invention and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description wherein illustrated embodiments are described. It is to be expressly understood that the illustrated embodiments are set forth as examples and not by way of limitations on the invention as ultimately defined in the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND BEST MODE OF INVENTION

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal configuration of a commercial implementation of any system, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may be configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide a two-direction expandable mobile house that can be configured, for example, as a recreational vehicle. The two-directions may be generally orthogonal to each other. The expandable mobile house can include a main body structure, two expandable structures including sliding wall panels, floor panels with hinges, and expansion mechanisms. The outside walls can be driven out by some hydraulic rods or by other mechanisms that can provide the same function connection linkages. The expandable floor panels can be stowed folded vertically. They can be connected to the main body frame with hinges. Small side wall panels can be designed to slide out from the main body frame. A flexible roof is able to be folded back into the main frame. The roof can include two inner boards for covering the expanded rooms.

The figures are briefly described below, followed by a broader discussion of each figure and the components therein.

FIG. 1A shows the folded state of a two-direction expandable mobile house. The size of the example introduced here is 20 feet in length and 8 feet 6 inches in width, which is allowed to be a recreational vehicle (RV) on road. The height of this example is 10 feet, which leaves the space for a recreational vehicle chassis. Of course, these dimensions may vary depending on the particular application. FIG. 1B illustrates the completely expanded state of the structure. It can expand 8 feet in length and 6 feet in width in this example. The total expanded area will be 392 square feet, which is under RV size limit of 400 square feet. The expanded length is up to 20 feet and expanded width is up to 8 feet if the RV size limit is not considered. As shown in FIG. 1B, the structure can include a gable roof design. This shape for the roof will make the structure more like a traditional house and provide better thermal insulation.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing how the structure transforms from the stowed state to the expanded state. The first two steps are pulling the outside wall out. The order of these two steps may be switched. While pulling out the long outside wall, the roof can be taken out as well due to its interconnection with the long outside wall. The floor panels will be folded out and push out with the movement of the outside walls. After two outside walls have been pushed out with the two floor panels, side wall panels will slide out. There are two small wall panels connected to a column. These two wall panels will be the wall of the intersection expanded area. FIG. 3 shows two side walls sliding out path and how the floor of the intersection area is expanded. As shown in the drawing, they can be similar to sliding doors. The short side walls slide out after the long side walls already been out.

FIG. 4 illustrates the mechanism used on the sliding side walls. A rack can be disposed on the top of the wall and a gear can be disposed on the main body frame. The gear can drive the rack to move. The gear can be twice as wide as the rack. Therefore, the rack can move left to right when it slides out. This allows the wall to slide out along the slot on the floor as shown. The sliding wall will slide out straight and then horizontally fill into the position.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show the two long side walls. Each long side wall will be pushed out with the floor. The floor includes a pivot connection with a slider groove that can connect with a track, as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, which can allow the floor to slide along and pivot with respect to the outer wall. The slider groove moves along the track. This mechanism allows the floor to rotate while mating with the wall movement. The side walls are connected to the main body frame with hydraulic rods, for example. The hydraulic rods will control the side walls sliding out or back. At the same time, the floor will be folded down or up.

FIG. 6A illustrates a specific design of the most outside floor on the corner. This floor part is expanded out from the side floor. In the stowed state, it is folded to a small area which can be pushed into the side floor. After the other parts has been set up, the floor can be extended out. Then, the floor can expand out to the same level of the other two floors. This mechanism includes a linkage lift and two groups of rotatable linkages. The lift part can be driven up by shrinking the bottom distance as shown in FIG. 6B. A screw rod system can be used here because the screw rod can be rotated to shorten the bottom linkage distance. Then, gears on the terminal of the screw rod can be used to mesh with the gears on the rotatable linkage on the sides. These linkages can be connected to two separate floor sections. By adjusting the gear ratio, when the two side panels are expanded out, the middle panel can be vertically lifted to be in the same level at the end of deployment. This structure allows the floor to be closely connected with the entire house.

FIGS. 7A through 8B illustrate the roof design of the expandable mobile house. FIG. 7A shows how the roof panels are folded. Two roof panels are hingedly connected to two outer sides of the roof panels. Their inside edges are stacked on the other. The lower panel can slide along the upper panel and the left side panel can rotate with respect to the axis on the main body frame. One end of the right-side panel is hinged connected to the outside wall, and it can rotate with respect to the side wall. Another end of the right-side roof panel can slide along the slot on the left side panel. FIG. 8A shows how to expand out another side roof panels over the second expansion section. The side roof panels are pulled out from the main roof panels. FIG. 8B is the mechanism for filling the middle area between the two side roof panels. Two panels are folded into the roof panels when the roof panels are inserted into the long roof panels. They are folded out when the roof panels are pulled out for covering the missing part due to the structure.

Referring to FIGS. 1A through 3, a mobile house 10 (also referred to as house 10) can be transformed between a stowed state (FIG. 1A) and an expanded state (FIG. 1B). The house 10 can include a long outer wall 16 that can expand outward from the main structure 11 (the main structure 11 refers to the structure within the footprint of the house 10 in the stowed state) to form a first expanded section 13. A short outer wall 18 can expand outward from the main structure 11 to form a second expanded section 23. When only the long outer wall 16 is expanded, the first expanded section 13 is formed. When only the short outer wall 18 is expanded, the second expanded section 23 is formed. When both the long outer wall 16 and the short outer wall 18 are expanded, a third expanded section 33 is formed in the corner between the first expanded section 13 and the second expanded section 23. As described above, during expansion, either the long outer wall 16 or the short outer wall 18 may be expanded first. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the long outer wall 16 being expanded first. A corner pillar 20 may be located at the corner, where the corner pillar 20 attaches to both the short side wall expansion frame 25 and the long side wall expansion frame 27.

The roof over the main structure, when in the expanded (deployed) state includes a first roof panel 12. A second roof panel 14 may at least partially nest with the first roof panel 12, as shown in FIG. 1A, in the stowed state. The second roof panel 14 may be attached to the long outer wall 16 so that, during expansion, the second roof panel 14 extends out from the first roof panel 12. As discussed in greater detail below, the roof can be extended upward to form a peaked gable roof configuration.

A third roof panel 26 can be nested into the first roof panel 12 in the stowed state and may be extended therefrom to cover the second expanded section 23. Similarly, a fourth roof panel 28 can be nested into the second roof panel 12 in the stowed state and may be extended therefrom to cover the third expanded section 33. A roof gable end 30 may be deployed to fill in the space between the third and fourth roof panels 26, 28 and the respective short outer wall 18 and the expansion side wall 24. The roof gable end 30 may folded down from the roof panels 26, 28, or may be expanded upward from the side walls 18, 24, for example. A similar structure may be provided on the back side (not shown) to fill in the roof gable end.

In some embodiments, the expansion side wall 24 on the short side may be slid into place, as described below. In some embodiments, the expansion side wall 22 on the long side may nest with and expand from the long outer wall 16. A similar structure may be provided on the back side of the structure to place rear expansion side wall 52 into place. In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the expansion side walls 24, 52 may first be rotated to position the walls on the tracks for sliding outward. Of course, various combinations of sliding walls and/or nesting walls may be used for the side walls that cover the expanded sections 13, 23, 33.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary expansion of the mobile house 10. In the first step, the long outer wall 16 is expanded outward. In the next step, the short outer wall 18 is expanded outward. The roof panels 12, 14 are moved to form a peak as shown by arrows 15, while arrows 17 indicate where gable roof ends 30 may be expanded upward. In the next step, the nested roof panels are expanded to cover the second and third expanded sections, as shown by arrows 19 to form the fully expanded state of the mobile house 10 as shown in the last diagram of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 4, the expansion side wall 24 may slide along a track 40 formed in the floor 26. In some embodiments, a gear rack 54 may be disposed on the expansion side wall 24 that engages with a gear 56 within the short side wall 18 to drive the expansion side wall 24 into place. In some embodiments, the track 40 may curve outward at a distal end 40A to move the expansion side wall 24 into a fully outwardly expanded orientation.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A through 5C, the floor 44 of the first expanded section 13 can be lowered as the long outer wall 16 is expanded (FIG. 5B) while the floor 46 of the second expanded section 23 can be lowered as the short outer wall 18 is expanded (FIG. 5A). As discussed below, a compacted floor 70 (see FIG. 6A), may be stored in a slot 60 provided in the floor 44 and may be expanded out to provide a floor surface in the third expanded section 33. The outer walls 16, 18 may include a vertical track 68 disposed therealong, where a groove 64 of a connector 62 may slide therealong. The connector 62 may attach to the floor 44, 46 at a pivot axis 66 so that the connector 62 slides down the track 68 while the floor pivots as it is lowered or raised during movement of the outer walls 16, 18.

As discussed above, the outer walls 16, 18 may move by various means, including a hydraulic movement system, a pneumatic movement system, a manual movement system or the like. Such structures may be similar to those known in the art for moving an expansion room outward from a main room.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the compacted floor 70 may be slid out from the slot 60 in the floor 44 to form the floor in the third expanded section 23 as shown by arrow 27 (see FIG. 3). Two side floor members 72 may lift upward on arms 74 and may pivot to provide outer floor sections. At the same time, a lift mechanism 78 may shorten its base along slot 82 to raise a central floor member 76 to match a height of the side floor members 72. Gearing 80 may be used to ensure a uniform floor height of the expanded floor.

Referring now to FIGS. 7A and 7B, as the long outer wall 16 is moved outward, as shown in FIG. 7A, the second roof panel 14 may include a connector 88 that allows the end of the second roof panel 14 to slide within a track 84 disposed along a bottom side of the first roof panel 12. The track 84 may have an upward curve 86 that helps secure the roof in the peaked, gable structure as shown in FIG. 7B. Each of the first and second roof panels 12, 14 can include respective slots 12A, 14A that store the third and fourth roof panels 26, 28, as described below.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the third and fourth roof panels 26, 28 may be slid out of slots 12A, 14B, as shown in FIG. 8A. Once extended, one or both of the third and fourth roof panels 26, 28 may include an engagement member to create an interconnection at the peak of the third and fourth roof panels 26, 28. In some embodiments, this interconnection can include a first hinged part 90, that may expand from a recess 91 in the upper edge of the third roof panel 26, and a second hinged part 92 that may extend from a recess 93 in the upper edge of the fourth roof panel 28. The first hinged part 90 may have an outwardly curved outer edge 94 that can mate with an inwardly curved outer edge 96 to create a waterproof interconnection.

All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims.

Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of examples and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different ones of the disclosed elements.

The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification the generic structure, material or acts of which they represent a single species.

The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to not only include the combination of elements which are literally set forth. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what incorporates the essential idea of the invention.

Claims

1. An expandable structure transformable between a stowed state and an expanded state, the expandable structure comprising:

a main structure;

a first expanded section, the first expansion section expandable outward in a first direction from the main structure;

a second expanded section, the second expansion section expandable outward, in a second direction different from the first direction, from the main structure; and

a third expanded section created at a corner intersection of the first expanded section and the second expanded section, the third expanded section formed when the expanded structure is in an expanded state.

2. The expandable structure of claim 1, wherein the first expanded section and the second expanded section share a corner of the main structure in the stowed state.

3. The expandable structure of claim 1, wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction.

4. The expandable structure of claim 1, further comprising a roof structure expandable in the first direction and in the second direction.

5. The expandable structure of claim 4, further comprising:

a first roof member covering a main structure in the expanded state;

a second roof member covering the first expanded section in the expanded state;

a third roof member covering the second expanded section in the expanded state; and

a fourth roof member covering the third expanded section in the expanded state, wherein:

the second roof member at least partially nests with the first roof member in the stowed state;

the third roof member at least partially nests with the first roof member in the stowed state; and

the fourth roof member at least partially nests with the second roof member in the stowed state.

6. The expandable structure of claim 5, wherein:

the third roof member is disposed within a slot formed in the first roof member in the stowed state; and

the fourth roof member is disposed within a slot formed in the second roof member in the stowed state.

7. The expandable structure of claim 6, wherein a first inside upper edge of the third roof member forms a waterproof interconnection with a second inside upper edge of the fourth roof member.

8. The expandable structure of claim 7, wherein the waterproof interconnection includes a first pivoting member formed along the first inside upper edge of the third roof member that engages with a second pivoting member formed along the second inside upper edge of the fourth roof member.

9. The expandable structure of claim 5, wherein the second roof member is attached to an outer wall of the first expanded section, the second roof member deploying and stowing when the outer wall of the first expanded section deploys and stows.

10. The expandable structure of claim 5, further comprising:

a track formed along a widthwise extent along a bottom of the first roof member;

an engagement member on an inside end of the second roof member, wherein

the engagement member engages with the track to slide therealong during transformation between the stowed state and the expanded state.

11. The expandable structure of claim 5, wherein the first roof member and the second roof member form a gable roof having a peak.

12. The expandable structure of claim 1, wherein:

a floor member of each of the first expanded section and the second expanded section are pivotably attached to the main structure on an interior end thereof and are pivotably attached to respective outer walls of respective first and second expanded sections; and

each floor member slidingly engages respective outer walls of respective first and second expanded sections.

13. The expandable structure of claim 12, further comprising a compact floor portion stored within the floor member of the first expanded section.

14. The expandable structure of claim 13, wherein the compact floor is expandable to form a floor surface of the third expanded section.

15. The expandable structure of claim 1, wherein at least one side wall of at least one of the first expanded section, the second expanded section or the third expanded portion is slidable along a track formed in a floor surface to position the side wall in the expanded state.

16. The expandable structure of claim 15, wherein the at least one side wall includes a rack that interfaces with a driven gear to move the side wall between the stowed state and the expanded state.

17. An expandable structure transformable between a stowed state and an expanded state, the expandable structure comprising:

a main structure;

a first expanded section, the first expansion section expandable outward in a first direction from the main structure;

a second expanded section, the second expansion section expandable outward, in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, from the main structure;

a third expanded section created at a corner intersection of the first expanded section and the second expanded section, the third expanded section formed when the expanded structure is in an expanded state;

a first roof member covering a main structure in the expanded state;

a second roof member covering the first expanded section in the expanded state;

a third roof member covering the second expanded section in the expanded state; and

a fourth roof member covering the third expanded section in the expanded state, wherein:

the second roof member at least partially nests with the first roof member in the stowed state;

the third roof member at least partially nests within a slot in the first roof member in the stowed state; and

the fourth roof member at least partially nests within a slot the second roof member in the stowed state.

18. The expandable structure of claim 17, wherein:

the first roof member and the second roof member form a first gable roof portion; and

the third roof member and the fourth roof member form a second gable roof portion.

19. An expandable structure transformable between a stowed state and an expanded state, the expandable structure comprising:

a main structure;

a first expanded section, the first expansion section expandable outward in a first direction from the main structure;

a second expanded section, the second expansion section expandable outward, in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, from the main structure;

a third expanded section created at a corner intersection of the first expanded section and the second expanded section, the third expanded section formed when the expanded structure is in an expanded state;

a first floor member forming a first expanded floor surface in the first expanded section when the expandable structure is in the expanded state;

a second floor member forming a second expanded floor surface in the second expanded section when the expandable structure is in the expanded state; and

a compact floor portion stored within the first floor member of the first expanded section, wherein

the first floor portion is pivotably attached to the main structure on an interior end thereof and is pivotably attached to an outer wall of the first expanded sections;

the second floor portion is pivotably attached to the main structure on an interior end thereof and is pivotably attached to an outer wall of the second expanded sections;

each of the first and second floor portions slidingly engages respective outer walls of respective first and second expanded sections; and

the compact floor is expandable to form a third floor surface of the third expanded section.

20. The expandable structure of claim 19, wherein:

at least one side wall of at least one of the first expanded section, the second expanded section or the third expanded portion is slidable along a track formed in respective first, second or third floor surfaces to position the side wall in the expanded state; and

the at least one side wall includes a rack that interfaces with a driven gear to move the side wall between the stowed state and the expanded state.