Collapsible For Ease Of Transport Patents (Class 52/79.5)
  • Patent number: 6308466
    Abstract: The invention provides a temporary portable shelter for an individual or individuals from the severe effects of a tornado or hurricane. The Enclosure consists of an case, having six sides, which is constructed of polycarbonate thermoplastic of extremely high quality and of superior strength and endurance. The Enclosure has a hinged door with door latch assemblies that may be operated from the inside. It has ventilation padding to protect the individual from injury while within the Enclosure. It may be bolted to the floor. Light may enter the Enclosure and a person inside may see out of the Enclosure. The Enclosure may also be outfitted with reflective tape detailing or a battery operated strobe light to help emergency staff quickly locate victims of severe weather conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventor: Robert J. Moriarty
  • Patent number: 6301839
    Abstract: The shed for a snowmobile or ATV of the present invention includes a rectangular container having opposed rigid planar side walls of generally equal size in parallel spaced apart array, a rigid first end wall mounted to first ends of the side walls, and an opposite second end wall pivotally mounted to opposite second ends of the side walls so as to form a door for the container. A pair of opposed facing, substantially vertical, first arrays of apertures are formed in the side walls, adjacent the first ends of the side walls, one of the first arrays in each of the side walls. Similarly, a pair of opposed facing, substantially vertical, second arrays of apertures are formed in the side walls, adjacent the second ends of the side walls, one of the second arrays in each of the side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventor: Edwin Brent Chapman
  • Patent number: 6295766
    Abstract: The present invention, in certain aspects, includes a portable building structure with a bottom section, a top section on the bottom section, the bottom section having at least one bottom support for supporting the top section, the at least one bottom support having a top opening, and the top section having at least one top support with a lower member projecting down into the top opening of the at least one bottom support. The present invention also provides a new bottom section for a building structure, the bottom section having a plurality of support pillars interconnected by interconnection members, each support pillar of the plurality of support pillars having an enlarged top opening for receiving a lower member of an upper section to be emplaced on the bottom section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Inventor: William H. Bigelow
  • Patent number: 6286269
    Abstract: A prefabricated shooting house is disclosed which can be easily assembled and disassembled from a position within the volume enclosed by the shooting house. The prefabricated package includes four rectangular side panels and a square top panel or roof, and requires no additional coloring or finish work. Assembly of the shooting house involves positioning four side panels, affixing three of the panels to adjoining side panels and a separately constructed bottom portion, positioning the top panel by raising it through the body diagonal of the house, and finally affixing the remaining side panel and top panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventor: G. Michael Marcum
  • Publication number: 20010008059
    Abstract: Transportable living quarters includes a main frame supporting a main living area and a slide out room which slides between an extended and retracted position relative to the main living area. An extendable member is mounted on the main frame and is rigidly connected to the slide out room floor, so that the weight of the slide out room is transferred from the floor of the main living to the extendable member as the slide out room slides between the retracted and extended positions. In one embodiment of the invention, the floor of the slide out room is leveled with respect to the floor of the main living area when the slide out room is moved to the extended position by bending of the extendable support member in response to the weight transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Inventors: Patrick W. McManus, James E. Dewald, Martin P. McManus
  • Publication number: 20010005967
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transformable linked structure, a deployable diagonal structure, a plane stowage-type deployable truss and a line stowage-type deployable truss with high rigidity and reliability constituted by the above-described transformable linked structure and the above-described deployable diagonal structure, and also provides a plane/line stowage truss structure extremely approximated to a spherical surface using the two types of deployable trusses. The present invention discloses a module linked structure for linking deployable trusses securely and a holding/releasing mechanism for realizing reliable holding and release. Further, the present invention provides a modular deployable antenna with high precision even if it is large-sized which is realized by spreading mesh on the plane/line stowage truss structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Akira Meguro, Jin Mitsugi, Kazuhide Ando
  • Patent number: 6253500
    Abstract: An expendable and collapsible mobile structure includes a central structure having a floor, a roof, front and rear end walls, and at least one longitudinal side wall that is movable out from the central structure. In an expansion operation, the front and rear side walls are adapted to be initially swung out perpendicular to the longitudinal side wall and positioned by ground supports. The top and bottom portions of inner sides of the front and rear side walls, moreover, are provided with rails, and top and bottom portions of front and rear side edges of the longitudinal side wall are provided with respective guide members which are movably journalled on the rails. The roof of the central structure is movable in a vertical direction and is provided with guide members that are guided along vertical rails provided on an inside of the front and rear end walls of the central structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Innovation Development Enterprise i. Stockholm AB
    Inventor: Thorbjorn Gyllenhammar
  • Patent number: 6250022
    Abstract: An extendible shed which includes a first base panel having a back panel attached thereto, a first plurality of side panels attached to the back panel, a first roof panel connected to the first plurality of side panels and a front panel connected to the first plurality of side panels. The shed is extendible by removing the front panel and connecting a second plurality of side panels to the first plurality of side panels, reconnecting the front panel to the second plurality of side panels, connecting a second roof panel to the second plurality of side panels and the first roof panel and connecting a second based panel to the first base panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Keter Plastic Ltd.
    Inventors: Haggai Paz, Efi Haimhoff
  • Patent number: 6243993
    Abstract: A modular patient healthcare room interior assembly is provided for creating a room in an unfinished space of a building. The interior assembly includes a modular sidewall assembly which includes a plurality of pre-fabricated wall panel segments connected together. Each wall panel segment includes a finished interior wall surface. A divider wall separates the room into a bedroom and a bathroom. A pre-fabricated vanity unit is located in the bathroom. The vanity unit includes a vanity countertop, a vanity wash basin and a vanity perimeter wall. A prefabricated bathing unit is located in the bathroom. A pre-fabricated nurse's station is located in the bedroom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Wellness, LLC
    Inventor: Earl S. Swensson
  • Patent number: 6237988
    Abstract: A system of adjustable rooftop cowlings, folding safety handrails, hatchways, stairways, and furnishings affixed to the top of motorhomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Frank Messano
  • Patent number: 6233880
    Abstract: A deployable structure comprising a side wall having a plurality of segments which make the side wall a tube-like shape as a whole. Four adjacent segments are connected with one another at one point to make one module. The folding patterns of the segments along the connecting creases have two purposes, one of which is a closing pattern to reduce an inner angle between connected segments adjacent in a circumferential direction of the side wall, accompanied with a folding in a direction of a central axis, the other of which is an opening pattern to enlarge the inner angle between connected segments adjacent in the circumferential direction of the side wall, accompanied with a folding in the direction of the central axis. As a result the side wall can be deployed and packaged in both directions of the central axis and the radius of the side wall by folding the segments along the connecting creases thereof in the closing and opening patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Nishimatsu Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akito Sogame, Jun Saito
  • Patent number: 6231266
    Abstract: A cam lock fastening system including cam lock devices for connecting two or more sheet metal panels to create a work booth. The device comprises a rigid, pivotable handle which includes at one end a cam like head; the handle being attached to an angle iron by a pivot pin. The angle iron is placed over the edges of the panels and is in a cooperating relationship with the panels as the handle is pivoted, causing the cam surface to be compressed against the compacted panel. The device is closed completely when a flat portion of the cam surface is in a locking relatonship with the panels. The locking of the device is aided by exerting influence upon the handle in a biasing manner, such as with a mallet like tool. The panels may be disconnected by reversing the direction of the handle to unlock the device. Eight foot sheet metal panels would require about three devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Inventor: John P. Gott
  • Patent number: 6202379
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transformable linked structure, a deployable diagonal structure, a plane stowage-type deployable truss and a line stowage-type deployable truss with high rigidity and reliability constituted by the above-described transformable linked structure and the above-described deployable diagonal structure, and also provides a plane/line stowage truss structure extremely approximated to a spherical surface using the two types of deployable trusses. The present invention discloses a module linked structure for linking deployable trusses securely and a holding/releasing mechanism for realizing reliable holding and release. Further, the present invention provides a modular deployable antenna with high precision even if it is large-sized which is realized by spreading mesh on the plane/line stowage truss structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.
    Inventors: Akira Meguro, Jin Mitsugi, Kazuhide Ando
  • Patent number: 6202364
    Abstract: A prefabricated self-supporting building structure and method of construction is described. The building structure comprises a plurality of substantially triangular shaped panels which are interconnected to one another by a hinge connector and along certain edges thereof whereby to form collapsible roof segments. There are four roof segments in the building structure. The triangular shaped panels are interconnected to form two pre-assembled collapsible panel sections each incorporating a pre-assembled roof segment and panel sections for adjacent roof segments. These two pre-assembled panel sections are erected by simple cable attachments which may be secured to a vehicle and these are interconnected back-to-back. The roof segments are also secured by brackets at their junction points of the panels for securing the roof segments in elevated position on supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventor: Bernard Fredette
  • Patent number: 6185878
    Abstract: A utility shed is disclosed comprising modular side panels (30) which are connected together by corner connectors (26) and in-line connectors (28) to form sidewalls. The connectors (26, 28) have an I-beam cross section and comprise U-shaped ends (106, 80) which engage relatively wide channels (62, 64) to securely hold the wall panels together. A door assembly is provided for engaging the corner connectors (26) and include pivot pin members (202) which attached to the vertical channel (114) of corner connectors (26) and allow pivotal door panels (164) to be suspended therefrom. Floor panels (116, 118) and lid panels (154) are provided compatible with the I-beam edge configuration of the side panels (30) such that the lid, floor and sidewalls mutually interlock with high structural integrity. The modularity of the side panels (30) allow for enclosures of larger or smaller size to be created using the same panel componentry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventors: Hoke V. Bullard, III, William F. Croft, Gregory S. Floyd, Jonathan N. Mandell
  • Patent number: 6186692
    Abstract: A locking mechanism that includes a multi-dimensional connecting locking pin which provides a structural link between two structural members that can be repeatedly separated and locked together. The connecting pin is comprised of a tapered shaft extending through a radially expandable split ring with the tapered shaft being moveable between housings located on each of the two separate structural members. As the tapered shaft moves through the radially expandable split ring, the ring is expanded outwardly to engage locking grooves in both housings to lock the structural members together. The tapered shaft is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder that forces the tapered shaft through a first stage in which the receiver housing is first aligned with the other housing, and after proper alignment is achieved, a second stage of the tapered shaft expands the split ring into a locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: HWH Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Hanser, Stacy Hanser
  • Patent number: 6182401
    Abstract: Transportable living quarters includes a main frame supporting a main living area and a slide out room which slides between an extended and retracted position relative to the main living area. An extendable member is mounted on the main frame and is rigidly connected to the slide out room floor, so that the weight of the slide out room is transferred from the floor of the main living to the extendable member as the slide out room slides between the retracted and extended positions. In one embodiment of the invention, the floor of the slide out room is leveled with respect to the floor of the main living area when the slide out room is moved to the extended position by bending of the extendable support member in response to the weight transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventors: Patrick W. McManus, James E. Dewald, Martin P. McManus
  • Patent number: 6178701
    Abstract: In order to provide a portable room suited for human use, the room is provided with a plurality of walls including three solid wall panels and a fourth wall panel defining a door opening for receiving a door therein. The room also includes a door hingedly mounted for movement between opened and closed positions relative to the door opening defined by the fourth wall panel. Each of the wall panels has a wall supporting post operatively associated with at least one of the opposite ends thereof The room also includes hinge means joining each of the wall panels to an adjacent wall panel for collapsible folding movement of the wall panels relative to each other. With this arrangement, a removable ceiling is supported on the wall panels and, in a preferred embodiment, cooperates with the wall panels to maintain adjacent ones in substantially perpendicular relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Sears. Roebuck and Co.
    Inventors: Denice D. De Paepe, Henry E. Schmalen, Russell E. Arnold
  • Patent number: 6176045
    Abstract: Transportable living quarters includes a main frame supporting a main living area and a slide out room which slides between an extended and retracted position relative to the main living area. An extendable member is mounted on the main frame and is rigidly connected to the slide out room floor, so that the weight of the slide out room is transferred from the floor of the main living to the extendable member as the slide out room slides between the retracted and extended positions. In one embodiment of the invention, the floor of the slide out room is leveled with respect to the floor of the main living area when the slide out room is moved to the extended position by bending of the extendable support member in response to the weight transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Inventors: Patrick W. McManus, James E. Dewald, Jr., Martin P. McManus
  • Patent number: 6176046
    Abstract: A pre-manufactured natural gas delivery station is presented to a client that filters, measures, controls, pre-heats, pressure reduces, odorizes, and provides communication, provides excess power, and provides excess heat for a host site. The design is pre-approved by supply pipeline, end users and regulatory bodies. The final configuration is welded, assembled, wired, painted, tagged, and tested, at a factory site and then shipped to an installation site in accordance with customer's requirements. The station is commissioned, operators are trained and a three volume project DATA book is installed in the control room for documentation. The pre-manufactured natural gas delivery station can include a high pressure gas metering room and regulating room that can be selectively coupled to other prefabricated modular rooms or modules. Preferably, the other prefabricated modules include an odorant room, a heating room, an energy generation room and an electrical control and communications room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Northstar Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Quine, John E. Rafferty, James M. Hunt, James M. Smilikis