Patent Publication Number: US-2011056146-A1

Title: Housing unit module and corresponding housing unit

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is entitled to the benefit of and incorporates by reference essential subject matter disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT/FR2009/000184 filed on Feb. 19, 2009 and French Patent Application No. 0801126 filed Feb. 29, 2008. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a housing unit module and to a corresponding transportable housing unit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     By being associated in non-detachable manner with means for moving it over land, such a housing unit may serve to form a mobile dwelling such as a caravan, a camping car, or some other mobile home, or else such a housing unit may serve to constitute a non-mobile dwelling that can be placed temporarily or permanently in a location for the purpose of forming a hut, a cabin, or some other dwelling of a similar type. Such a housing unit may thus, in particular, be used, on its own or in association with other housing units, for tourism purposes as a leisure home, for work purposes as itinerant premises, or for humanitarian purposes as an emergency dwelling or as medical premises for disaster victims and, more generally, for any type of dwelling or premises not needing to be built on foundations. 
     A drawback with known transportable housing units of this type results from the lack of space, in particular the lack of width and of volume. That lack of space is a result of road width constraints that do not permit vehicles of widths greater than 2.5 meters (m), including the transported volume, to travel, except by special “wide-load” convoy. 
     There exist such housing units that are made up of a basic framework associated with extendable portions. The extendable portions may, depending on the example, comprise:
         fold-out rigid panels;   hinged metal structures associated with a piece of canvas or with rigid panels;   box structures connected to the framework via slideways so as to slide in the manner of drawers; or   removable additional housing units adjoining the main housing unit.       

     In order to mitigate the lack of space in transportable housing units, research has also been done on the convertibility of the interior furniture: a table that retracts to become a bed base, a bench seat that converts into a mattress, retractable tables and chairs, a bed that can be raised to the ceiling, etc. 
     The space saved in this way can be used as living space or as stowage volume. 
     With all of those solutions, the space saving for use as living space or as stowage volume in the housing units is achieved only after complicated manipulation, and is made possible only by the use of costly and complex mechanisms that can be of low reliability. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to propose means making it simple to obtain a housing unit that is rigid and extendable. 
     To this end, the invention provides a housing unit module, comprising a framework that is substantially rectangular block shaped and that has at least two open sides, one of which receives a shell provided with an opening defined by a peripheral edge that is connected to the open side via a vertical pivot pin to pivot between a retracted stowage position in which the opening faces towards the outside of the framework, and a deployed position in which the opening faces towards the inside of the framework, a panel being mounted on the framework to move between a lowered position in which it closes off the opening in the shell as in the retracted position, and a raised position in which the panel extends in part over a top portion of the framework and in part over the shell as in the deployed position. 
     The housing unit module can thus be extended by moving the panel from its lowered position to its raised position, and by pivoting the shell from its retracted stowage position to its deployed housing position. The panel performs two functions, namely a function of closing the shell in the retracted stowage position when said panel is in its lowered position, and, when it is in its raised position, a function of protecting the top portion of the shell and the top portion of the framework, in particular, from harmful climatic conditions (the Sun&#39;s rays, rain, snow, hailstones, etc.). 
     A housing unit may be made up of one or more modules. 
     Thus, the invention also provides a housing unit comprising at least two side modules, each side module being a module as defined above, and having a framework that, opposite from the open side that receives the shell is provided with an open side for association via which the side modules are connected together. 
     Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear on reading the following description of a particular non-limiting embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4  are perspective views of a housing unit of the invention, and they show the operations for extending the volume of said unit,  FIG. 1  showing the unit in its smallest-volume configuration,  FIG. 4  showing the unit in its largest-volume configuration, and  FIGS. 2 and 3  showing intermediate positions; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a housing unit with its outer cladding; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a dwelling made up of a plurality of housing unit modules of the invention; 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  are analogous to  FIG. 6 , and they show variants of the dwelling of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  are perspective views showing a caravan made up of modules of the invention, and showing the caravan respectively in the transport position, and in the parking position; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a camping car made up of modules of the invention; and 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a dwelling made up of a plurality of modules of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1 to 5  show a housing unit that is designated overall by reference  1  and that is made up of two modules that are designated overall by reference  2  and that are assembled together (the modules are identical, and the letters A and B are associated with the reference  2  in order to distinguish between them in the figures). 
     Each module  2  is made up of a framework that is designated overall by reference  3  and that is in the general shape of a rectangular block having a half-square base, and comprising girders  4  that are assembled together to form the edges of the rectangular block shape. 
     It should be noted that four of the girders  4  are shown in the figures in chain-dotted lines. These girders  4  serve to stiffen the framework  3  during transport and they are removed when two modules are assembled together to form a unit, as explained in detail below. In this example, the framework  3  is all-welded. Naturally, other embodiments are possible. 
     In this example, the framework  3  has four open sides, one of which, referenced  5 . 1 , receives a shell that is designated overall by reference  6  and that is defined laterally by a semi-cylindrical wall that is closed at the top by a semi-circular roof  7 , and at the bottom by a bottom  8  that is also semi-circular. The shell  6  thus has an opening  9  that is defined by a peripheral edge  10  of the shell  6  in such a manner as to extend in a diametrical plane of the shell  6 . The peripheral edge  10  is connected to the top and bottom girders  4  that define the open side  5 . 1  via respective vertical pivot pins  11  projecting from the roof  7  and from the bottom  8  of the shell  6 . The shell  6  is thus mounted to move between a retracted stowage position in which the opening  9  faces towards the outside of the framework  3 , and a deployed position in which the opening  9  faces towards the inside of the framework  3 . In said deployed position, the shell  6  vacates the internal space of the framework  3 . In both positions, the peripheral edge  10  comes flush with the outside surface of the girders  4  defining the open side  5 . 1 . For example, the shell  6  is made up of two semi-cylindrical walls fitted one inside the other. Insulation is interposed between the two walls as are reinforcement members such as stiffeners. The walls may be made of the same material, or of different materials. For example, the inner wall may be obtained by molding a plastics material and may incorporate shelves or stiffener shapes that are integrally molded with it. For example, the outer wall may be made of galvanized steel 
     The open side  5 . 2  that is opposite from the open side  5 . 1  is designed to remain open and to be associated with the open side  5 . 2  of the other module so as to form the housing unit. 
     The other open sides  5 . 3  and  5 . 4  of the framework  3  are designed to be equipped with rigid panels that are optionally provided with doors, for giving people access to the inside of the unit, or with transparent and/or translucent surfaces, possibly windows, enabling light to penetrate, thereby providing natural lighting for the inside of the unit. 
     The framework  3  has a metal floor. The framework  3  is preferably equipped with a floor having a double bottom so as to receive a water tank, a battery, a wastewater tank, etc., or more simply to constitute an underfloor crawl space. 
     The top portion of the framework  3  has transparent or translucent panels enabling light to pass through them and incorporates a raising mechanism  12  for raising a panel  13  that is mounted to move between a lowered position in which it closes off the opening  9  in the shell  6  as in the stowage position, the panel  13  then being pressed against the outside surfaces of the girders  4  of the open side  5 . 1 , and against the peripheral edge  10  of the shell  6 , and a raised position in which the panel  13  extends in part over the top portion of the framework  3  and in part over the roof  7  of the shell  6  as in the deployed position, the panel  13  then being held inclined and spaced apart from the top portion of the framework  3 . The panel  13  is connected to the framework  3  by two side links  14  that enable it to pivot between its two positions. In this example, the raising mechanism  12  comprises a connecting rod  15  having a first end that is hinged to the top edge of the panel, and a second end that is hinged to the top portion of the framework and that is connected to a tie  16  such as a strap or a cable secured to a winch incorporated in the top portion of the framework  3 . The raising mechanism may be actuated by an electric motor associated with a switch or with a remote control, or else it may be purely mechanical and actuatable by a crank handle. In this example, the top portion of the framework  3  is made of a composite material and is mounted on the top girders of the framework  3 . 
     The panel  13  is made of metal, of wood, of a plastics material, or of a composite material that may be cellular (and then covered with a surface skin) or non-cellular. 
     A sealing element (not shown) equips the peripheral edge  10  of the shell  6  so as to enable sealing to be provided between said peripheral edge  10  of the shell  6  and firstly the panel  13  when the shell  6  is in the retracted stowage position, and secondly the girders  4  of the open side  5 . 1  when the shell  6  is in the deployed position. The girders  4  of the open side  5 . 1  are also equipped with sealing means so as to provide sealing between them and the panel  13  when the panel  13  as in the lowered position is pressed against them. 
     A housing unit as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5  is assembled by fastening the modules together via their open sides  5 . 2  for association. Once the modules have been fastened together, the girders  4  that serve as stiffeners for transport purposes are removed. The fastening means are nuts and bolts in this example. Sealing elements are interposed between the associated open sides so as to provide sealing between the two modules. 
     The resulting housing unit can be transported on the flatbed of a truck when the shells  6  are in the retracted stowage position and when the panels  13  are lowered against said shells ( FIG. 1 ). This housing unit can also be fastened detachably or non-detachably to a trailer so as to form a caravan or to a vehicle of the flatbed van type so as to form a camping car. 
     Once the housing unit is placed at the location where it is to be used, the panels  13  are brought to the raised position ( FIG. 2 ) and the shells  6  are brought to the deployed position ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The housing unit as installed is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     It should be noted that, in the raised position, the panels are spaced apart from the top portion of the framework  3  in such a manner as to enable light to pass into the framework, and also as to enable the unit to be ventilated naturally, and they are inclined so as to facilitate runoff of rain and possibly of snow (preventing snow from accumulating on the panels, which could damage the panels under the weight of the accumulated snow). 
     Naturally, it is possible to provide locking mechanisms, e.g. key-operated locks, preventing the panels  13  from being raised. 
     The shells  6  are of sufficient size to enable them to receive stowage furniture, a raisable bed, or a convertible sofa, household electrical appliances, toilet and bathroom fittings, etc. 
     The central portion of the housing unit may be occupied by removable furniture such as a table and chairs stowed away for transport purposes, e.g. in the other shell, or else said central portion can be left empty as a passageway for people. 
     A unit of larger size is shown with reference to  FIG. 6 . This unit can be made up of two modules  2 , such as the modules described above and referred to as “side modules” in this example, the associated open sides  5 . 2  of the modules being connected together via an intermediate module  20  having a framework  21  that has two opposite open sides  22  to which the associated open sides  5 . 2  of the side modules  2  are fastened. The other sides of the intermediate modules  20  may be formed of panels that are uninterrupted or that are provided with openings. 
       FIG. 7  shows a housing unit as shown in  FIG. 6  that has been provided with an inhabitable upper storey made up of two modules  2 , such as the above-described modules, assembled together side-by-side as in  FIG. 5  and mounted on the top portion of the intermediate module  20 . Interior stairs are provided for connecting the intermediate module  20  to one of the modules  2  of the upper storey. The modules  2  of the upper storey are disposed perpendicularly to the modules of the ground floor so that the panels  13  of the ground-floor modules do not hinder pivoting of the shells  6  of the upper-storey modules  2 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a housing unit as shown in  FIG. 7  but in which the intermediate module  30  that is wider than the module  20  is provided with a side module  2  on each of its sides. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  shown a caravan made up of a wheeled flatbed  40  on which a housing unit formed by five modules  2  is mounted. 
     It is possible to provide rollers or wheels under the housing unit in order to enable it to be unloaded from the wheeled flatbed. For this purpose, the wheeled flatbed is equipped with access ramps  41 . 
     Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described, and variant embodiments may be applied to it without going beyond the ambit of the invention as defined by the claims. 
     Photovoltaic collectors or other means for collecting solar energy may be fastened to the panel  13  so as to be subjected to solar radiation. The photovoltaic collectors are connected to batteries disposed, for example, under the floor of the framework. 
     The overall shape of the components of the housing unit of the invention may be different to the shape shown. The intermediate module may thus be of hexagonal, of octagonal, or of some other shape. 
     The stiffener girders may all be kept when the modules are assembled together. 
     The rigid panels may have a plane shape or a shape in relief, and in particular a shape that is curved, for example, about a vertical axis. 
     It should be noted that the framework can include setbacks for passing or accommodating elements that are secured to or integral with the trailer or flatbed on which it is mounted, e.g. for forming wheel arches. 
     Other arrangements of modules are possible: at least one side module may be fastened to a top portion of the intermediate module in order to form at least one upper story, or intermediate modules may be stacked up. 
     While the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications to this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present.