Patent Abstract:
The foldable habitation can be unfolded and deployed to satisfy dwelling needs, and can be folded into a compact configuration for displacement or storage, for example. The foldable habitation has a base with an elongated central floor portion, a frame secured to and vertically extending from the central floor portion, and a covering having a central roof portion mounted to the upper portion of the frame. The foldable habitation can be provided as a cottage unit which can be displaced from year to year, a movable motel unit, or an office unit which can be installed on a temporary construction site, to give three examples of the numerous possibilities.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    A foldable habitation allowing an owner to fold the habitation from an unfolded state to a folded state, to move it to another location, or for storage, is presented in published international patent application no. WO 02/066755. Such a foldable habitation can provide a cottage which can be displaced from year to year or an office which can be installed on a temporary construction site, for example, to give two of the numerous possibilities it offers. It can be folded into a compact folded state for displacement and be unfolded and deployed to satisfy dwelling needs. 
         [0002]    Although the foldable habitation discussed above has been found satisfactory on many aspects, there remained room for even further improvements. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a foldable habitation comprising: a base having an elongated central floor portion with a front end and a rear end; a frame having a front portion secured to and vertically extending from the front end of the central floor portion, a rear portion secured to and vertically extending from the rear end of the central floor portion, and an upper portion connecting the front portion and the rear portion, the frame being capable of supporting the weight of the foldable habitation when the foldable habitation is lifted by the front portion and the rear portion of the frame; and a covering having a central roof portion mounted to the upper portion of the frame. 
         [0004]    In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a foldable habitation comprising: a base having an elongated central floor portion, generally oriented in a longitudinal orientation, having a front end, a rear end, and two opposite sides, the base also having two lateral floor portions, each lateral floor portion being hingedly mounted along a respective one of the opposite sides of the central floor portion; a frame having a front portion secured to and vertically extending from the front end of the central floor portion, a rear portion secured to and vertically extending from the rear end of the central floor portion, and an upper portion connecting the front portion and the rear portion; a covering having a central roof portion mounted to the upper portion of the frame and having two opposite sides, and two lateral roof portions, each lateral roof portion being hingedly mounted along a respective one of the opposite sides of the central roof portion; two opposite lateral walls, each lateral wall having a front end and a rear end and being slidable in a transversal orientation along a corresponding one of the lateral floor portions; and a front wall and a rear wall, each having a central wall portion mounted to a respective one of the front portion and the rear portion of the frame and having two opposite sides, and two foldable lateral portions, each lateral portion being hingedly mounted between a respective one of the opposite sides of the central wall portion and a respective one of the front end and the rear end of a respective one of the two lateral walls, the lateral portions being configured and adapted to unfold when the corresponding lateral wall is outwardly slid. 
         [0005]    In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a foldable habitation having a foldable base including an elongated central floor portion having a front end and a rear end, a foldable covering including a central roof portion, and deployable walls, the foldable habitation being characterized in that it further has a supporting frame having a plurality of interconnected steel beams, the frame having a front portion secured to and vertically extending from the front end of the central floor portion, a rear portion secured to and vertically extending from the rear end of the central floor portion, and an upper portion connecting the front portion to the rear portion of the frame and to which the central roof portion of the covering is mounted. 
         [0006]    In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a method of handling a foldable habitation in a folded configuration, the method comprising: removably fastening a front leverage beam to an upper end of a front portion of a steel frame of the foldable habitation; removably fastening a rear leverage beam to an upper end of a rear portion of the steel frame of the foldable habitation; and lifting the foldable habitation using the fastened front and rear leverage beams. 
         [0007]    In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a foldable habitation that can be unfolded and deployed to satisfy dwelling needs, and that can be folded into a compact configuration for displacement or storage, for example. The foldable habitation has a base with an elongated central floor portion, a frame secured to and vertically extending from the central floor portion, and a covering having a central roof portion mounted to the upper portion of the frame. The foldable habitation can be provided as a cottage unit which can be displaced from year to year, a movable motel unit, or an office unit which can be installed on a temporary construction site, to give three examples of the numerous possibilities. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0008]    Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended figures, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example of an improved foldable habitation in a folded state; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  showing unfolding of the lateral floor portions; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  showing unfolding of the lateral roof portion on one side; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  showing unfolding of the walls on one side; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , with one side completely deployed, showing unfolding of a lateral roof portion on another side; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the improved foldable habitation of  FIG. 1  in an unfolded state; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  with the covering removed; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the frame of the foldable habitation of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 4 , showing the lateral wall sliding transversally; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view, fragmented, of the front or rear portions of the frame of  FIG. 8 , with components removed, and with a leverage beam fastened thereto; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the foldable habitation of  FIG. 1  adapted to be lifted by a crane. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  shows an example of an improved foldable habitation  10  in a folded state. In the folded state, the foldable habitation has an elongated appearance in an orientation referred to herein as the longitudinal orientation, schematized by a longitudinal axis  11 . The main components of the foldable habitation  10  are substantially symmetrical along a median longitudinal plane. For the sake of clarity, a front end  12  and the rear end  14  of the foldable habitation are defined, though it will be understood that a front door of the foldable habitation can be provided in a wall referred to herein as a lateral wall or rear wall, for example. Due to the symmetricallity of the foldable habitation  10 , the front end  12  and the rear end  14  are similar. Only one side of the foldable habitation thus needs to be discussed in detail. For simplicity, when two similar components are present on opposite sides of the foldable habitation  10 , only one of the two similar components is referred to using a reference numeral. 
         [0021]    The foldable habitation  10  includes a base  16  having an elongated central floor portion  18  oriented in the longitudinal orientation  11 , and two lateral floor portions  20 . Each lateral floor portion  20  is hingedly mounted to pivot around a corresponding longitudinal side  30  of the central floor portion  18 . The foldable habitation  10  also has a covering  24 , the covering  24  includes a central roof portion  26  oriented in the longitudinal orientation  11 , and two lateral roof portions  28 . Similarly, the two lateral roof portions  28  are hingedly mounted along two opposite sides of the central roof portion  26 . The foldable habitation  10  also has two opposite lateral walls  32 . In the folded state, each lateral roof portion  28  is nested between a corresponding lateral floor portion  20  and a corresponding lateral wall  32 . The foldable habitation also has a front wall  34  and a rear wall (not shown). The front wall  34  has a central wall portion  36  having two opposite sides  38 , and two folded lateral portions  40 . Each one of the two folded lateral portions  40  is hingedly mounted between a corresponding opposite side  38  of the central wall portion  36  and a corresponding lateral wall  32 . The rear wall (not shown) is similar to the front wall  34 . 
         [0022]    Reference will now be made to  FIGS. 1 to 6  to show successive steps for unfolding the foldable habitation  10  from the folded state into an unfolded or deployed state. These steps can be carried out in the reverse order to fold the foldable habitation  10 . 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 1  the foldable habitation  10  is in the folded state. In  FIG. 2 , the foldable habitation  10  is shown positioned onto height-adjustable bearing members, jacks  42  in this case, and the lateral floor portions  20  are being unfolded by hingedly pivoting around the corresponding side  30  of the central floor portion  18 . In  FIG. 3 , the base  16  is deployed. A lateral roof portion  28  is being raised by hingedly pivoting along a respective side of the central roof portion  26 . In  FIG. 4 , a lateral wall  32  is being slid transversally along a corresponding lateral floor portion  20 , which results in unfolding a corresponding lateral portion  40  of the front wall  34 . The lateral portion  40  of the front wall  34  includes two wall panels  44 ,  46 , which are hingedly connected together along their adjacent sides. The inner wall panel  44  has an inner side hingedly connected to a corresponding side  38  of the central portion  36  of the front wall  34 , and the outer wall panel  46  has an outer side hingedly connected to a front end of the lateral wall  32 . A lateral portion of the rear wall (not shown) is similarly unfolded at the rear of the foldable habitation  10  as the lateral wall  32  is transversally slid. In  FIG. 5 , one side of the foldable habitation  10  is shown unfolded, and the other side is being deployed by raising the lateral roof portion  28 . The lateral wall of that other side, and the corresponding lateral portions of the front and rear walls, will then be deployed such as depicted in  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 6 , the foldable habitation is shown in an unfolded state. A chimney  48  can also be present on the front wall  34 . 
         [0024]    In  FIG. 7 , the foldable habitation  10  is shown with the covering  24  removed. A steel beam frame  50  of the foldable habitation  10  is shown. Partitions  52 ,  54  were unfolded subsequently to deployment of the lateral walls  32 . Cupboards were affixed to one partition  54 , corresponding to a kitchen area. Furniture can then be added to the foldable habitation as desired. 
         [0025]    The example of a foldable habitation  10  described above and illustrated corresponds to a cottage unit offering a panoramic view at the front due to the presence of numerous large windows on the front wall. In alternate embodiments, the configuration of the partitions, windows, and doors, can greatly depart from those illustrated to adapt the foldable habitation to other uses. An office unit where the partitions are removed or minimized, and a motel unit longitudinally separated in two halves and having two front doors, and two bathrooms, one accessible from each half, are two of the numerous examples of other uses. Many additional configurations and uses are also possible. 
         [0026]    For illustrative purposes, the illustrated model has 7.3 m (24 feet) in length and 6.7 m (22 feet) in width when it is in the unfolded state. When it is folded, it can be folded down to 2.6 m (8 feet and 7 inches) in width, which is an advantageous width when exporting overseas because it allows shipping in standard size shipping containers. In alternate configurations, various other lengths and widths are also possible. 
         [0027]    A factor which has been known to limit the practicable length of previously known foldable habitations was the important longitudinal deflection, caused by the weight of the components, which has been known to occur when such folded habitations were lifted to be put onto a trailer or into a container, for example. This was a source of many handling difficulties, and in some cases, lifting required the installation of an outer frame for the folded habitation, like an exoskeleton, to provide a lifting structure to limit the longitudinal deflection during lifting. 
         [0028]    One element which is very advantageous in the illustrated example of an improved foldable habitation  10  is the incorporation of an internal frame  50 . The incorporation of an internal frame allows to alleviate many of the aforementioned handling difficulties known to some previously known foldable habitations by providing a longitudinal deflection-resistant structure. This can advantageously help in limiting the longitudinal deflection in the components of the foldable habitation, thus easing the manipulation of foldable habitations and allowing to provide foldable habitations of increased length as compared to what could previously be achieved. For example, using a frame of steel beams, it is now possible to produce and handle a foldable habitation having 10.3 m (34 feet) in length, and potentially more. 
         [0029]      FIG. 8  shows the steel frame  50  of the foldable habitation  10  shown and described above. The steel frame  50  has an upper portion  52  to which the central roof portion  26  is mounted, and a front portion  54  and a rear portion  56  to which the central portions  36  of the front wall  34  and of the rear wall are mounted, respectively. The front portion  54  and the rear portion  56  are secured to, and vertically extend, from the front end and the rear end of the central floor portion  18 , respectively. The upper portion  52  of the frame  50  is assembled to the upper ends of the front portion  54  and the rear portion  56  of the frame  50 . 
         [0030]    In this example, a front brace  58  and a rear brace  60  are provided as part of the front portion  54  and the rear portion  56 , respectively. The braces  56 ,  58  each have a fixed central portion  62  fastened along the corresponding one of the front or rear end of the central floor portion  18 . For illustrative purposes, it will be understood that the central floor portion  18  and lateral floor portions  20  are constructed with an internal structure, and the central floor portion  18 , for example, can have structural members extending along both transversally opposite sides  30 . These side structural members are connected at opposite ends to the central portion  62  of the braces  56 ,  58 . The use of fixed central portions  62  of braces  56 ,  58  for securing the frame  50  to the central floor portion  18  advantageously allows to spread the retention forces along the width of the central floor portion  18  when the foldable habitation  10  is lifted. In alternate configurations, the frame can be connected to the floor differently. 
         [0031]    The braces  56 ,  58  in this example, also include two lateral brace portions  64 , each being hingedly connected to a corresponding end of the central brace portion  62 . This particular configuration is optional, but advantageously allows to provide the hinged connection between the lateral floor portions  20  and the central floor portion  18  as part of the frame  50 . The use of braces  56 ,  58  can also contribute to add structure to the lateral floor portions  20 , which can be helpful in leveling the habitation  10 . 
         [0032]    Certain conventional wood structures have a tendency to deform with time due to warping of the wood boards during temperature variations, or aging. A metal frame can advantageously overcome these limitations of wood structures because they are more stable with time. Further, providing the metal frame internally allows to somewhat minimize the remaining deformation, or relative displacement, which can occur in the components which are mounted to the frame. 
         [0033]    In this example, the upper portion  52  of the frame  50  includes two longitudinally oriented and transversally spaced-apart I-beams  66 . I-beams advantageously provide an important amount of longitudinal deflection resistance to the frame  50  and can advantageously be manufactured in various lengths and sizes. It will be understood that beams having other cross-sectional shapes than I-beams, but also offering satisfactory longitudinal deflection characteristics can alternately be used. The particular size of I-beams for a particular foldable habitation application can be calculated by persons of ordinary skill in the art for a given overall weight, and weight distribution, of a particular embodiment of a foldable habitation. The two parallel I-beams  66  are transversally interconnected by a plurality of struts  68 . In the illustrated example, all the components of the frame  50  are made of steel, although components of other metals can also be used. In alternate embodiments, different configurations of can alternately be used for the upper frame portion  52 . 
         [0034]    In this example, the front portion  54  and the rear portion  56  of the frame  50  are similar, and both include two vertical beams  70 , or studs, each one of the studs extending downwardly from a respective one of the two I-beams  66 . Alternate configurations can also be used. 
         [0035]    In this example, the frame  50  is further reinforced by an optional intermediate portion  72  also having two vertical beams  74 , or studs, and a transversal floor beam  76 . The intermediate portion  72  serves to suspend an intermediate portion of the central floor portion  18  to the upper portion  52  of the frame  50 . This advantageously allows to reduce longitudinal deflection in the central floor portion  18 . In alternate configurations, the intermediate portion  72  can be omitted, or additional intermediate portions can be added, to adapt the frame to different lengths of foldable habitations, or to different weight and deflection characteristics of the foldable habitation components, for example. 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , to ease the transversal sliding of the lateral walls  32  of the foldable habitation when folding or unfolding, the lateral walls  32  can be supported on wheels or rollers. In this example, a transversally oriented wheel  80  is provided at each longitudinal end of the lateral wall  32 . The front brace  58 , and more particularly the lateral brace portions  64  thereof, are provided with guiding tracks  82  for the wheel  80 . Guiding tracks are optional, but can advantageously be used to help maintaining the longitudinal alignment of the lateral walls during the transversal sliding displacement. The guiding tracks can advantageously be provided on either one of the front end and the rear end of the lateral floor portions  20  rather than being provided on both the front end and the rear end, because using two opposite guiding tracks can lead to blockage of the lateral wall  32  if obliqueness occurs during the transversal sliding displacement, such as if one end of the lateral wall  32  is moved faster than the opposite end. Providing guiding tracks made of metal is advantageous because it provides a hard surface on which the wheel  80  can be easily slid. This hard surface is durable and helps maintain the foldability of the habitation  10  over time. In embodiments where lateral brace portions  64  are used, the guiding track  82  can advantageously be provided as part of the frame  50 . The guiding tracks  82  can thus be automatically aligned with the central floor portion  18 . Further, providing the guiding track  82  as part of the lateral brace portion  64  offers deformation resistance over time. 
         [0037]    In this example, the guiding track  82  has a vertically-extending male portion  84  extending along the upper side of the lateral brace portion  64 , and the wheel  80  has a circumferential female groove  86  adapted to receive the male portion  84  of the guiding track  82 . The use of the male portion in the guiding track rather than in the wheel is advantageous because the vertically-extending male portion contributes to impede infiltration of water from the outside. 
         [0038]      FIG. 10  shows that the studs  70  of the front portion  54  or rear portion  56  of the frame  50  can advantageously have threaded apertures  88  defined in an upper end portion thereof. The fastener-receiving apertures  88  can receive fasteners used for securing a leverage beam  90  directly to the frame  50 . The threaded apertures  88  thus act as fixation points, or lifting areas of the frame  50 . The fasteners used to fasten the leverage beams to the frame  50  collectively support the entire weight of the foldable habitation  10  when it is lifted. The positioning of the threaded apertures  88  close to the upper portion  52  of the frame  50  is advantageous because it allows to distribute the lifting force to the upper portion  52  of the frame  50  with a relatively small moment of force between the front portion  54  or rear portion  56  and the upper portion  52  because of the relatively small distance, or lever arm, between the threaded apertures  88  and the upper portion  52 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 11 , shows an example of how the foldable habitation  10  can be lifted. A front leverage beam  89  is secured to the front end  12  of the foldable habitation  10 , and more particularly to the frame  50  thereof, whereas a rear leverage beam  90  is secured to the rear end  14 . The front and rear leverage beams  89 ,  90  can advantageously be hooked upon at opposite ends thereof, to raise the entire foldable habitation  10  for manipulation and displacement. As discussed above, manipulating the foldable habitation  10  in this manner is especially advantageous for exporting overseas, or when shipping by train, in which cases the foldable habitation  10  can be raised and placed into a shipping container. When shipping or moving by truck, the foldable habitation can also be placed on a truck bed by jacking, for example. 
         [0040]    As can be seen therefore, the examples described above and illustrated are intended to be exemplary only. The scope of the invention(s) is intended to be determined solely by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4