Patent Publication Number: US-2020291639-A1

Title: Vertically Stackable Dwelling Device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Priority is claimed of German Utility Model Application DE20-2019-101476. 8, filed Mar. 15, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as if set forth at length. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates to a dwelling device having a plurality of unilaterally open dwelling units for a respective temporary accommodation of one or more people. Each dwelling unit comprises a uniform hexagonal honeycomb-shaped outer profile with a base panel and a screen panel arranged parallel to the base panel. Each dwelling unit further comprises two upper and two lower side panels connecting the base panel and screen panel in an area of opposing side edges. Each dwelling unit is made of a material whose stability is dimensioned to ensure both the stability of a dwelling unit as a single piece of furniture as well as an adjacent vertical stacking of a plurality of dwelling units in a safe manner without the use of further aids. 
     SUMMARY 
     Dwelling devices of the type mentioned above are known in the prior art in a variety of different designs. However, the known dwelling devices have the disadvantage that they are often not designed robust enough to be stacked one or more times vertically one on top of the other for the purpose of saving space in a horizontal direction. 
     Furthermore, the known dwelling devices generally have a spatial form which prevents a relaxed ergonomic leaning of the back of a person staying in a dwelling unit against a part of an inner wall being adapted to the natural dimensions of the outer wall, and thus prevents a comfortable stay inside the dwelling unit. During a relaxed sitting within the known dwelling units a risk of falling out of the dwelling unit may also be given, since an effective support opportunity is lacking. 
     The object of the invention is therefore to provide a dwelling device with a predeterminable plurality of dwelling units, in which the dwelling units can be sturdily and securely stackable on top of each other, and wherein, by creating appropriate supporting and leaning possibilities, a safe and comfortable stay inside a dwelling unit without the risk of falling out of the dwelling unit is provided. 
     For a dwelling device of the type mentioned above, this object is achieved in that at least one dwelling unit comprises one or more cross struts for increasing the stability and for acting as leaning units for people staying within a dwelling unit, wherein one cross strut is shaped in the form of a ladder. 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject of the subclaims, the elements of which act in the sense of further improvements of the approach to the solution on which the invention is based. 
     In the dwelling device according to the invention, with the aid of the feature combination that at least one dwelling unit comprises one or more cross struts for increasing the stability and for acting as leaning units for people staying within a dwelling unit, wherein one cross strut is shaped in the form of a ladder, firstly both the stability of a dwelling unit as a single piece of furniture as well as the stability of a plurality of adjacent, vertically stackable dwelling unit without any further aids is ensured. Secondly, a robust and safe vertical stackability while simultaneously providing a basic comfort at a significantly increased safety against a person falling out of a dwelling unit is provided. 
     Thereby, the accessibility of a dwelling unit according to the invention and the comfort and safety within a dwelling unit according to the invention are substantially improved over the prior art. 
     The dwelling device according to the invention can be used in particular as a so-called learning honeycomb wall (German: “Lernwabenwand”), which represents a spatial vessel in between furnishing and an architectural space divider. The dwelling device consists of individual whole honeycombs and half honeycombs, which stacked on top of each other create a wall structure that can be climbed by means of ladders. The dwelling device provides children with space cells to retreat to for learning and studying, to read and do smaller activities, as well as to relax over lunch, to listen to music etc. A half-honeycomb placed on a floor of a room as a shelf forms an even smaller space, which a small child can crawl into and hide. 
     In addition, for a group of two or three people, whole honeycombs in particular can be used for a discussion of a group work. The dwelling device may form an efficient space extension and diversification of learning venues in a classroom and different places where children are present. In addition, it offers children the opportunity for unconventional movements and promotes motoric skills without having large space requirements. 
     According to a first preferred embodiment of the dwelling device according to the embodiments herein, it is provided that the ladder is vertically arranged in the region of a front façade of the dwelling unit and is firmly connected to at least one dwelling unit in the region of at least one predetermined connection point. 
     According to a second preferred embodiment of the dwelling device according to the embodiments disclosed herein, it is provided that a first longitudinal strut of the ladder is formed to extend to an upper screen panel and a second longitudinal strut of the ladder is formed to extend to a connection point between two adjacent neighbouring side panels and thus is correspondingly shorter than the first longitudinal strut. 
     According to a third preferred embodiment of the dwelling device, the hexagonal honeycomb-shaped outer profile of the dwelling unit is formed uniformly with a base panel, a screen panel and upper and lower side panels of identical shapes. 
     The base panel, the screen panel and the two upper and lower side panels are aligned with each other in such a way, that an intersection of the respective surface normal of these panels forms the centre of a honeycomb forming the dwelling unit. 
     According to a further preferred embodiment of the dwelling device according to the embodiments herein, the angle between the base panel and a respective lower side panel, between the screen panel and a respective upper side panel and also between a lower and an upper side panel is set at 120°. 
     According to a further preferred embodiment of the dwelling device according to the embodiments herein, two of a plurality of dwelling units are placed side by side on a flat storage surface, such that the distance between the connecting edge of an upper side panel and a lower side panel of a first dwelling unit and the connecting edge of an upper side panel and a lower side panel of a second dwelling unit adjacent to the first dwelling unit corresponds to the length of a base panel of a third dwelling unit arranged between the first and the second dwelling unit. 
     A third dwelling unit is thereby preferably placed above a respective first and second dwelling unit, wherein the dwelling units are arranged in several floors on top of each other. 
     Furthermore, fastening devices are preferably provided on each dwelling unit, by means of which the dwelling unit can be anchored vertically to a wall. 
     The hexagonal honeycomb-shaped wall of a dwelling unit may preferably be integrally formed as a single piece. Alternatively, the hexagonal honeycomb-shaped wall of a dwelling unit may be formed in several pieces, wherein the hexagonal honeycomb-shaped wall of the dwelling unit in particular may be made of six individual panels connected to form a hexagonal honeycomb. 
     Furthermore, one or more cross struts can be accommodated within a dwelling unit for increasing the stability and for acting as leaning units for people staying within a dwelling unit. 
     The angle of 120° corresponds to an ergonomic backrest of a seat, wherein an opposite lower wall panel forms an ergonomic footrest. 
     The size of a panel preferably corresponds to the length of the back of a human body including the head height. For an adult person this may correspond to a length of approximately 90 cm to 95 cm. The size of a honeycomb shaped dwelling unit may be derived from these dimensions. 
     The dimensions of a dwelling unit are preferably designed to allow simultaneous accommodation of 1 to 4 people. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The dwelling device according to the invention herein is explained below with reference to a preferred embodiment, which is shown in the single FIGURE of the drawing. 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic representation of a dwelling device according to the invention, provided with specific cross struts, in a view obliquely from the side. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The dwelling device  100  according to the invention as shown in  FIG. 1  comprises a plurality of unilaterally open dwelling units  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ for a respective temporary accommodation of one or more people. Each dwelling unit  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ comprises a uniform hexagonal honeycomb-shaped outer profile  120  having a base panel  11 , a screen panel  112  arranged in parallel to the base panel  111 , and two upper and two lower side panels interconnecting the base panel  111  and the screen panel  112  in the region of the opposing side edges  115 ,  115 ′. 
     Each dwelling unit  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ is made of a material whose stability is dimensioned to ensure an adjacent vertical stacking of a plurality of dwelling units  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ in a safe manner. In the example shown, the respective panels of the dwelling units  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ are formed out of medium density wood fibre boards. 
     Furthermore, at least one cross strut in the shape of a ladder  300  is arranged on a plurality of dwelling units  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ in order to increase the stability of the dwelling unit and acting as a leaning unit for people staying within the dwelling unit, wherein in the case of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  a cross strut is formed in the shape of a ladder  300 . 
     The ladder  300  may be vertically arranged in the region of a front façade of the dwelling units  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ and may be firmly connected to at least one dwelling unit  110  in the region of predetermined connection points  400 . 
     Furthermore, a first longitudinal strut  301  of the ladder  300  may be formed to extend to an upper screen panel  112  and a second longitudinal strut  302  of the ladder  300  may be formed to extend to a connection point between two adjacent neighbouring side panels  113 ,  114 ;  113 ′,  114 ″. 
     The hexagonal honeycomb-shaped outer profile  120  of a dwelling unit  110  may be uniform, i.e. base panel  111 , screen panel  112  and upper side panels  113 ,  113 ′ and lower side panels  114 ,  114 ′ may be identical in shape and dimensions. 
     The base panel  111 , the screen panel  112 , the two upper side panels  113 ,  113 ′ and the two lower side panels  114 ,  114 ′ may be aligned with each other such that the intersection of the respective surface normal of these panels forms the centre of a honeycomb forming the dwelling units  110   110 ′,  110 ″. Furthermore, the angle between the base panel  111  and a respective lower side panel  114 ,  114 ′, between the screen panel  112  and a respective upper side panel  113 ,  113 ′ and between a lower side panel  114 ,  114 ′ and an upper side panel  113 ,  113 ′ may be 120°. 
     Two of a plurality of dwelling units  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ may be respectively placed next to each other on a flat storage surface, such that the distance between the connecting edge  115 ′ of an upper side panel  113 ′ and a lower side panel  114 ′ of a first dwelling unit  110  and the connecting edge  115  of an upper side panel  113  and a lower side panel  114  of a second dwelling unit  110 ′ adjacent the first dwelling unit  110  corresponds to the length of a base panel  111  of a third dwelling unit  110 ″ arranged between the first dwelling unit  110  and the second dwelling unit  110 ′. 
     The third dwelling unit  110 ″ may be placed on top of a respective first dwelling unit  110  and second dwelling unit  110 ′. The remaining dwelling units  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ are arranged in a corresponding manner in a multi-story arrangement. 
     At each dwelling unit  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ fastening means may be provided, by means of which the dwelling unit  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ may be vertically anchored to a wall. In the illustrated case, the dwelling units  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ are anchored by means of hooks and eyelets to a wall located behind them. 
     For the dwelling units  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ shown in the FIGURES, the respective hexagonal honeycomb-shaped wall is formed by several pieces and is formed out of six individual panels connected to a hexagonal honeycomb. 
     Within some of the dwelling units  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″, a further ladder  300  may be provided as a cross strut for increasing the stability and for acting as a leaning unit for people staying within a dwelling unit  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″. 
     The dimensions of the dwelling unit  110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ shown may be designed to allow simultaneous accommodation of 1 to 4 people. 
     The above-described embodiment of the invention is merely for the purpose of better understanding of the teaching of the invention predetermined by the claims, which is not limited as such by the embodiment. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
           100  dwelling device 
           110 ,  110 ′,  110 ″ dwelling units 
           111  base panel 
           112  screen panel 
           113 ,  113 ′ upper side panels 
           114 ,  114 ′ lower side panels 
           115 ,  115 ′ opposing side edges or connecting edge 
           120  outer profile 
           300  ladder 
           301  first longitudinal strut 
           302  second longitudinal strut 
           400  connection point