Abstract:
The present invention provides a foldable enclosure intending as a building or portion of a building that may be transported to a desired site in a folded configuration and then expanded into its intended form. The enclosure has a floor and two wall or roof support section extending upwardly from opposed sides of the floor section. A first roof section spans across the gap between the wall or roof support sections. At least a second roof section in provided that is pivotally mounted to the structure to overlie the first roof section in transit and fold out to extend outwardly substantially in plane with the first roof section in the expanded form. Similarly, second floor sections may be pivotally mounted to lie adjacent the wall/roof support sections in transit and extend outwardly substantially in plane with the first floor section when expanded. A further wall section may be pivotally connected to the end of the second floor section so that it may lie parallel and adjacent the second floor section in transit and extend upwardly from the second floor section when expanded to interconnect with the expanded roof and complete the enclosure. In the preferred form the structure includes a third roof section pivotally mounted to the second roof section to further extend the roof in the expanded configuration to meet and connect with the further wall section.

Description:
This is a national stage of PCT/AU07/001,864 filed Dec. 4, 2007 and published in English, which has a priority of Australia no. 2006906800 filed Dec. 5, 2006, hereby incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a foldable enclosure and, in particular but not exclusively to, a house that can be transported in a folded configuration and expanded at a destination site. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     Fixed and mobile enclosures of all shapes and sizes are utilised throughout the world. Considerable time and expense is involved in the construction of an enclosure of any substantial size. A house for example is complicated to construct and requires the cooperation of many different skilled tradesmen. In some areas of the world, it is also difficult to locate suitable tradesmen. 
     Referring particularly to dwellings, construction time is typically limited to a minimum of three months. The coordination of independent tradesmen in conjunction with fluctuating weather conditions and varying environments, adds considerable time to the construction. As tradesman are typically under pressure to complete a job in the quickest possible time, poor workmanship, miscalculation and human errors occur. Workplace related accidents could also occur due to time pressures and manually fabricating and erecting parts on site. Delays in construction also occur when materials are delivered late or inconsistently and faulty or incorrect products are supplied. On worksites it is also common for tools and materials to go missing. 
     There is a need for an enclosure, such as a dwelling, that can be constructed in a factory where the above problems would not occur, folded into a container, shipped to a destination site and then unfolded into an expanded configuration as quickly as possible. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention consists in a foldable enclosure that is to be in a folded configuration during transport to a destination site where the enclosure is to be placed in an expanded configuration; said enclosure including: 
     a floor; 
     at least one wall extending upwardly from the floor; and 
     a roof assembly supported on the wall and spaced upwardly from the floor, the roof assembly including: 
     a first roof portion extending laterally from the wall in a first direction having a horizontal direction component, a second roof portion pivotally mounted for angular movement about a generally horizontal axis for movement between a folded transport configuration where the second roof portion at least substantially overlays the first roof portion, and an expanded configuration where the second roof portion extends laterally relative to the wall in a direction opposite said direction component. 
     Accordingly, in a second aspect, the invention consists in a foldable enclosure that is to be in a folded configuration during transport to a destination site where the enclosure is to be placed in an expanded configuration; said enclosure comprising:
         a first floor section   at least two roof support sections connected to said floor adjacent opposed sides of said first floor section and extending substantially perpendicular from said floor;   a first roof section connected to ends, distal from said floor, of said at least two roof support sections and spanning across a distance between said two roof support sections   at least one second roof section pivotally connected to said first roof section or said roof support section and movable between a folded configuration in which said second roof section substantially overlies said first roof section and an expanded configuration in which said second roof section lies substantially in plane with said first roof section and extending in an opposed direction to that of said first roof section from an adjacent end of said roof support section   at least one second floor section pivotally connected to or adjacent said side of said first floor section and movable between a folded configuration in which said second roof section lies substantially adjacent said roof support section and an expanded configuration in which said second floor section lies substantially in plane with said first floor section and extending in an opposed direction to that of said first floor section from an adjacent end of said roof support section; and   at least one wall section pivotally connected to second floor section at an end of said floor section distal from that connected to or adjacent said first floor section and movable between a folded configuration in which said wall section lies substantially adjacent said second floor section and an expanded configuration in which said wall section extends perpendicular from an end of said second floor section to interconnect with an expanded roof section.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIGS. 1 to 9  show cutaway side views of the foldable enclosure of the present invention from a folded configuration to an expanded configuration; 
         FIG. 10  shows a cutaway exploded side view of the gutter and eave system of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 11A to 11C  show side views of the movement of the lifting mechanism of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 12A to 12E  show a roof connector for use in the present invention; 
         FIGS. 13A and 13B  show a sheet connector and roof sheets for use in the present invention; 
         FIGS. 13C to 13H  show an alternative sheet/roof connector for use in the present invention; 
         FIGS. 14A ,  14 B and  14 C show water tanks for use in the present invention; 
         FIGS. 15A and 15B  show a wall/floor hinge for use in the present invention; 
         FIGS. 16A to 16E  show structural members for use in the present invention; 
         FIGS. 17A to 17G  show plan and side views of an enclosure of the present invention from a folded configuration to an expanded configuration; 
         FIGS. 18A to 18C  show a container for use with the present invention; 
         FIGS. 19A and 19B  show a further connector for use with the container and enclosure of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 20A to 20F  show a further connector for use in the present invention; 
         FIGS. 21A to 21F  show a further container for use in the present invention; 
         FIGS. 22A to 22D  show footings and jacks for use with the present invention; 
         FIGS. 23A to 23E  show the sub floor assembly for use with the present invention; 
         FIGS. 24A to 24D  show a sliding mechanism for use with the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 25A and 25B  show a bathroom for incorporation into the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the accompanying drawings, and as best seen in  FIGS. 1 to 9  there is schematically depicted a foldable enclosure  1  having a floor  3 , at least one wall  5  extending upwardly from the floor  3  and a roof assembly  7  supported on the wall  5  and spaced upwardly from the floor  3 . The roof assembly  7  includes a first roof portion  9  extending laterally from the wall  5  in a first direction having a horizontal direction component, a second roof portion  11  pivotally mounted to the first roof portion  9  for angular movement relative thereto about a generally horizontal axis. A third roof portion  13  pivotally mounted to the second roof portion  11  for angular movement relative thereto about a generally horizontal axis. 
     The floor  3  in a preferred form is a first floor section  3  and the enclosure  1  includes a second floor section  15  pivotally mounted to the first floor section  3  for angular movement relative thereto about a generally horizontal axis. The wall  5  in a preferred form is a first wall  5  and the enclosure  1  further includes a second wall  17  pivotally mounted to the second floor section  15  for angular movement relative thereto about a generally horizontal axis. Enclosure  1  includes means  19  to fixably connect the third roof portion  13  to the second wall  17  as best seen in  FIGS. 8 to 10 . 
     Roof assembly  7  further includes a truss  21  to support roof portions  9 ,  11  and  13 . In a preferred form the truss  21  is hinged to a wall  5  to provide a hinged truss. One of the roof portions  9 ,  11  and  13  (and in the preferred form the third roof portion  13 ) includes a lifting mechanism  23  as best seen in  FIGS. 10 ,  11 A to  11 C. The lifting mechanism  23  includes a longitudinally extending arm  25  for mounting by way of mounting brackets  27  to an underside  29  of the third roof portion  13 . The arm  25  includes a lifting part  31  pivotally mounted to the arm  25  adjacent an end  33  of the third roof portion  13  for angular movement relative thereto about a generally horizontal axis. The lifting part  31  in a preferred form includes a slot  35  extending along the longitudinal length of the part  31  to cooperate with a pin  37  located on the arm  25 . The slot  35  can pivot about the pin  37 . The lifting part  31  further includes an aperture  39  for connection to lifting means in the form of a crane (not shown). 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 15A and 15B , a connector in the form of a hinge  41  or the like is provided. The hinge  41  pivotally connects the second floor section  15  to the second wall  17 . However, the hinge  41  can be utilised in a variety of areas about the enclosure  1  and should not be limited to this use only. The floor/wall hinge  41  includes a substantially U-shaped body  43  having a pair of flanges  45  with holes  47  to receive fastening means (not shown) to secure the flanges  45  to the second floor section  15 . The body  43  also includes a pivot connection  49  or the like for pivotal mounting to the second wall  17  for example. The floor/wall hinge  41  is operable for angular movement about a generally horizontal axis between 0 to 90 degrees to pivot the floor section  15  relative to the wall  17 . Advantageously, the floor/wall hinge  41  attaches two structures of the enclosure  1  together and can be located within a section  87 . This provides folding at 90 degrees to a seamless join. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 10 , the second wall  17  includes an eave/gutter assembly  51  pivotally mounted to the second wall  17  for angular movement relative thereto about a generally horizontal axis. The eave/gutter assembly  51  includes means  53  to collect rainwater from the adjacent third roof portion  13 . To assist in the rainwater runoff, the third roof portion  13  at the remote end  33  includes a substantially semi-circular end  33  to direct water into a convex shaped collector  54  on the means  53 . The rainwater means  53  includes an elongate surface  55  tapered from the end  33  towards the second wall  17  to direct the captured rainwater towards the second wall  17 . The second wall  17  can include a downwardly extending gutter  57 , a reservoir  59  in fluid communication with the gutter  57  and/or the tapered surface  55 . The reservoir  59  could be a water tank, bladder or the like. The reservoir  59  can be located external or internal of the wall  17  or above a ceiling or below a floor as shown in  FIGS. 23A ,  23 B and  23 C. 
     The reservoir  59  as best seen in  FIGS. 14A to 14C  includes longitudinally extending apertures  61  or the like to accommodate building services. The reservoirs  59  could also be utilised to provide additional structural support to the enclosure  1  and to assist in insulation and fire prevention for example. Fluids other than rainwater could be contained in a reservoir  59  such as waste water or grey water. The reservoir  59  includes members  62  that act as studs or the like to receive wall panels or the like. A release valve (not shown) could also be utilised to connect two or more reservoirs  59 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 12A-12E  the enclosure  1  further includes a hinge  63  for pivotally connecting the first and second roof portions  9 ,  11  and second and third roof portions  11 ,  13  for example. The hinge  63  however can be utilised in a variety of areas about the enclosure  1  and should not be limited to this use only. The roof hinge  63  includes a body  65  of a generally arcuate shape and includes substantially parallel and laterally spaced apart first and second faces  67 ,  69 . Each face  67 ,  69  includes an arcuate slot  71  and a complimentary guide member  73  located within and for sliding movement along a respective slot  71 . The guide members  73  being secured to the roof members  9 ,  11  and  13  for example. The roof hinge  63  is operable for angular movement about a generally horizontal axis between 0 and 180 degrees and creates a seamless join between the two structural elements it is connecting. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 20A-F , a further connector or hinge  130  is located inside (that is it is not visible) a wall, floor or roof section  87 . The connector  130  which enables the wall, floor, (or any other two members) to be connected. The hinge  130  is located within the section  87  and includes a generally Y shaped member  132  pivotable about a point  133  and includes two arms  134 ,  135  defining a recess  136  therebetween. One arm  135  extends towards a ratchet  137  and is movable therealong to limit rotation of the member  132  about the pivot point  133 . The ratchet  137  also rotates about a pivot point. A piston mechanism  138  or the like can be utilised to urge the member  132  or ratchet  137  to either lock or unlock each other and thereby the connector  130 . The piston  139  can include rods  146  and springs  147  or the like. A further arm  140  is fixed to and extends from an adjacent section  87  through an aperture  142  and includes a portion  141  to be received within the recess  136  of the member  132 . An end  145  pushes the member  132  about its pivot axis and along the ratchet  137 . The connector  130  is able to fold with overlapping material such as roof, corrugated iron external cladding without the need to repair or patch the folding joint. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 13A ,  13 B the roof portions  9 ,  11  and  13  can include a plurality of roofing sheets  75 . A connector or hinge  77  connects the adjacent roof sheets  75  and is operable for angular movement about a generally horizontal axis. The sheet hinge  77  includes a substantially circular longitudinally extending body  79  having a substantially circular slot  81 . An end  83  of an adjacent sheet  75  being locatable within the slot  81  for angular movement relative thereto. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 13C to 13H  a further connector assembly  100  is shown. The connector assembly  100  is primarily used to connect roof portions  9 ,  11 ,  13  and is an alternate connector to the one shown in  FIGS. 13A and 13B . The connector  100  is located within a supporting structure such as section  87  and includes a member  102  moveable between a retracted and extended position and a spring  103 . The member  102  is connected to a pivot on the section  87 . The spring  103  is connected at one end of the member  102  and a bar  104  is connected at the other end. The bar  104  extends longitudinally of the section  87  to urge the adjacent section  87  in a transverse direction form the bar  104 . This movement allows for the adjacent roof portion and section  87  to slide a connecting piece  105  between adjacent roof portions  108  allowing the two roof portions  108  to be connected seamlessly creating a waterproof membrane. The connector  100  like all the alternate connectors/hinges of the enclosure  1  can be operated by mechanical, hydraulic or electrical means (not shown). 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 16A to 16E , the enclosure  1  includes structural sections  87  which include at least one transverse channel  89  for receiving a corresponding section  87  to form a generally T-shaped connection. The section  87  also includes at least one rib  91  extending along the longitudinal length of the section  87 . The section  87  has a base  93 , upwardly extending walls  95  and outwardly extending flanges  97 . A strengthening or supporting block  96  can be placed inside the section  87  to provide joint strength and rigidity to the enclosure  1 . The block  96  can have a channel  94 . The block  96  in the preferred form would be manufactured from plastic however could be manufactured of any suitable material and the section  87  would preferably be a steel section. In this way, one single profiled section  87  can be used for walls, roofs and floors and provide a structural frame for the enclosure  1 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 1 to 9  and  18 A to  18 C, the enclosure  1  can include a container  99  to transport the enclosure  1  to a destination site. The first floor section  3  of the enclosure  1  can form the floor of the container  99 . In a preferred form, the enclosure  1  is to be a dwelling or house and accordingly as seen in the figures a number of enclosures  1  can be connected together to form a much larger enclosure such as a house or building (see  FIGS. 17A to 17G ). The container  99  can be lowered, onto pre-established jacks/stands which act as foundations or footings for the enclosure  1 . The shell of the container  99  is withdrawn leaving the enclosure  1  sitting on the jacks/stands. As shown in  FIGS. 18A to 18C , the walls  107  of the container  99  are pivotable with respect to the top web  120  to allow the walls  108  and web  120  to be substantially parallel in a folded configuration or provide a “flat pack”. The empty folded container  99  (5 or 3 sides) is returned to the point of manufacture “flat packed” and refilled with another enclosure  1 . The container  99  can also include various standard features such as hooking and mounting plates to allow the container  99  to be moved like an ordinary container. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 19A and 19B , the walls  107  of the container  99  include a further connector  110  to secure the walls  107  to the floor section  3  of the enclosure  1 . the connector  110  can be of any type however in the preferred embodiment, a pin, rod or the like  112  extends from the wall  107  and is locatable within an aperture  114  in the floor section  3 . The pin  112  once located in the floor section  3  can be rotated to activate a latch  116  located at the end of the pin  112 . The latch  116  locks onto an internal flange  118  of the floor section  3  locking the wall  107  and the floor section  3  together. The latch  116  can include a ratchet, spring, clip or the like to assist with the connecting and can also include a manual, hydraulic or electronic release (not shown). The connector  110  eliminates the need for screws or bolts. Further, the connector  110  is hidden within the structural elements of the enclosure  1  and won&#39;t be seen. This connector  110  could also be used to secure other parts of the enclosure  1  together and should not be limited to the above described use. The container  99  therefore includes a locking system that provides container security when the contents (being the enclosure  1 ) are placed inside the container  99 . The container  99  is operated via hydraulic lifting shafts to unfold and fold the container  99 . As the enclosure  1  can be of any size the container  99  must also be of varying sizes and could use sectionalised panels or the like to vary the length of the container  99  to accommodate various enclosure sizes. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 21A to 21F  a further connector or hinge  160  providing 180 degrees rotation is provided. The hinge  160  includes a body  162  having a generally W shape configuration and is connectable within a section  87 . At each end of the body  162  are located arms  164  having portions  166  for pivotable attachment to adjacent sections  87  and movement about a radial axis. The section  87  having wall, floor panels or the like being attached thereto. The joint provides a seamless joint as shown in  FIG. 21D  by the tapered ends of the panels and body  162 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 24A to 24D  a cupboard or the like  220  to be located in the enclosure  1  includes a number of rollers  221  to move along a guide  222  to allow movement of the cupboard  220 . The cupboard  220  includes a pin  223  to lock the cupboard  220  in place. The cupboard  220  will also provide a complete seal with the walls  224 . This provides that cupboards, wardrobes or the like for use in the enclosure  1  are able to slide away from a folding area and fold back without fixing joins. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 25A and 25B , a bathroom arrangement  230  which could include a complete waterproofing at the factory with no installation required on site is provided. The bathroom  230  includes a drain  232  spaced around the periphery of the bathroom  230 . The drain  232  provides a seal with tiles fixed in place. The drain  232  captures water from the floor and includes a skirting profile replacing the waterproofing membrane and is clipped into the flooring. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 22A-22D  once the site has been prepared, holes are dug and anchor assemblies  180  are concreted to provide footings. Those anchor assemblies  180  are of any typical type. However, in the embodiments shown they include a first longitudinally extending member  181  secured within the concrete  182  at ground level and have a number of apertures  183  extending therealong. A telescopic member  184  is locatable within the first member  181  and extends longitudinally therefrom. The telescopic member  184  includes corresponding apertures  186  and a locking pin  187  to secure the two members at a particular height above the ground. An anchor pier  189  or the like is secured to the end of the telescoping member  184  and securable to the sub-floor  190  of the enclosure  1 . The anchor pier  189  can include adjustment means  192  to be rotated for example to adjust the height of the sub-floor  190  from the ground. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 23A-E , the sub-floor  190  can include two cross-sectional members  194 ,  195  which are connected to the floor  3  of the enclosure  1 . The sub-floor  190  is attached to the anchors  189  providing the height above the ground. A reservoir  59  can be located under the sub-floor  190  and include a flange  198  pivotally connected to a side of the reservoir  59 . In the extended position the flanges  198  are locatable within guides  200 . Due to the design of the members  194 ,  195  a reservoir  59  can be easily placed in position or removed at any time. 
     In use, the enclosure  1  is completely fabricated in an assembly line at an enclosure factory. Once completed in the factory the enclosure  1  is placed within the container  99  in a folded configuration (see for example  FIG. 1 ) for transport to a destination site where the enclosure  1  is to be placed in the expanded configuration (see for example  FIG. 9 ). 
     Prior to the enclosure  1  arriving at a destination site, the site needs to be prepared to accommodate the arrival of the enclosure  1 . The land to accommodate the arrival of the enclosure  1  is prepared and levelled. A pre-built footing frame is placed simultaneously with the pouring of the concrete on the level land. This is completed using guiding plates and level rods incorporated within the footing frame to ensure that the footing frame is placed correctly as well as to reduce the likelihood of any human error. 
     Purpose built jack stands  180  designed to screw onto the footing frame are now attached. These jack stands  180  are adjustable and accommodate for varying ground height. Attached to the jack stands  180  is a pin to slide onto the pre-fabricated sub-frame  190 . Also included are self-guiding plates for the enclosure. The pre-fabricated frame is placed onto the jack stands  180  and adjusted to correct the height. There is no need to screw the frames  190  to the jack stands  180  as they clip in place ensuring accuracy as well as a perfect fit. The pre-fabricated floor frames retain female clipping systems and the pin for the dwelling floor to clip onto. Upon the enclosure  1  arriving a crane lifts the enclosure  1  and places it onto the sub-frame  190 . The floor together with its clipping system clips easily without screwing directly onto the prior placed sub-frame  190 . The crane dislodges the aforementioned purpose built container  99  which was initially placed over the enclosure  1 . The container  99  is located to from the floor  3 . 
     The floor  3  is therefore now located on the frame by way of the clipping system. The crane removes the container  99  from about the enclosure  1 . The second floor section  15  and second wall  17  in the folded transport configuration are substantially parallel to each other and the first wall  5  as best seen in  FIG. 1 . The second floor section  15  and second wall  17  are now pivoted away from the first wall  5  and into the expanded configuration (shown in  FIG. 5 ) by angular movement about their respective hinges in the direction opposite to the direction component so that the second floor  15  is in the same plane as the first floor section  3  and the second wall  17  extends substantially perpendicular upwardly from the second floor section  15 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 11A to 11C , the lifting mechanism  23  is positioned so that the lifting part  31  is substantially perpendicular to the arm  25  so that the crane can connect to the lifting part  31  by way of the hole  39 . The crane extends the first, second and third roof portions  9 ,  11  and  13  which in the folded configuration are at least substantially overlaying each other and extends them to the expanded configuration where the second and third roof portions  11 ,  13  extend laterally relative to the wall  5  in a direction opposite the direction component of the first roof portion  9 . The third roof portion  13  is then connected to the second wall  17  by way of connection  19 . 
     The eave/gutter  53  is then pivoted away from the second wall  17  so that a connection part  101  can be connected to the lifting part  31  of the lifting mechanism  23 . As best seen in  FIG. 10 , the roof sheets  75  are then rolled out from a folded configuration where each sheet  75  at least substantially overlays each other to an expanded configuration where each sheet  75  extends adjacent to each other. 
     A sliding system (see  FIGS. 24A to 24D ) enables internal structures such as walls, wardrobes, and the like to be located within the folding area of the container  99  and slide away while being transported and slide back into their finished position once the enclosure  1  is at its destination site. 
     The utilities for the enclosure  1  are now connected and the internal finishing touches completed. The enclosure  1  is then ready to be occupied. 
     Advantageously, the present invention at least in a preferred form, provides a relocatable dwelling with the principle application of housing occupants constructed and prefabricated on a production line within a factory. The simplicity of the invention allows incorporation of additional features not normally found on most conventional style dwellings and the inclusion of substantially all fittings prior to leaving the factory. In the preferred form no individual components will be sold separately. The structure of enclosure  1  is of a high grade steel which provides a higher level of endurance than conventional materials currently being used for enclosures  1  and provides a superior ability to transport due to the strength and long lasting characteristics of the material. The enclosure  1  could conceivably include any sized floor space and extensions such as garages, double storeys or the like could be accommodated and could be transported to any location. Further, a range of “green” products such as recycling, solar and wind power features could also be added and incorporated prior to transport. Further, as the enclosure  1  is designed and built in a factory it allows complete customisation for individual consumers. 
     All the hinges of the enclosure  1  allow 90 degrees and 180 degrees folds leaving the exterior and interior walls and floor without any visible seams. The hinges allow the unfolding process to be the final process as the seams or joins do not require any further finishing or rendering as the joins are considered quite “seamless”. The connectors/hinges also provide joining of two panels in a condition which is deemed quite “waterproof” both internally and externally. 
     The enclosure  1  therefore provides minimal lag time and delay in construction as there is a set procedure for the erection of the enclosure  1  and very little opportunity for human error to occur. As the enclosure  1  would be constructed in a factory on a production line, there is very little lag time from order to delivery and quality control can be assured. Further, there is little variation in the expense to the consumer as problems with materials or weather would not occur. It is also noted that the convex style guttering assembly  51  which is located under the end  33  of the roof portion  13  would have minimal capture of debris and maximum filtration of water and be fireproof. The gutter assembly  51  could also include a filtration system or the like or varying profiles or be manufactured out of different materials. The gutter assembly  51  provides a method of collection rainwater prior to storage in a tank or the like, or for stormwater disposal. Also the assembly  51  incorporates a lifting device  31  which controls during the construction process into the structure of the enclosure  1 . The assembly  51  is adhered to the enclosure  1  with the outermost end of the assembly  51  being in line with the outermost end of the roof. Further, the folds, hinges and joints are concealed by way of creating internal and external architectural features. The architectural features are prefabricated with adjoining clips. This means that when dwellings reach the erecting phase it becomes only a simply matter of clipping in place all remaining prefabrications. Thus, the aesthetic aspect as well as the concealing aspect is taken care of in a manner of minutes. 
     The transport container  99  would also have foldable walls to allow compact return to the factory as well as maximum protection of the enclosure  1 . It should be noted that components such as kitchens, bathrooms, doors, windows and fittings or the like would all be completed and installed at the factory and included in the transported container. By use of the clipping system substantial use of screws and bolts have been eliminated. For example, it should be noted that the enclosure  1  can be manufactured of a variety of materials and should not be limited to steel, aluminium, metal or the like. Further, the elements of the enclosure  1  do not need to pivot about a horizontal axis and could also pivot about a vertical axis depending upon the orientation of the enclosure  1 . 
     It should be noted that the enclosure  1  can be re-folded and moved. That is, the folding process mentioned above can be reversed including the roof, walls and other components can be refolded, repacked, reassembled, moved and reconstructed at a different location. The enclosure  1  in the unfolded configuration would be undistinguishable from a typical house constructed using normal techniques. 
     This invention has been described by means of preferred embodiments which should not be considered limiting to the generality of the description itself. Specific integers referred to throughout the description are deemed to include known equivalents where appropriate. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.