Patent ID: 7882659

Claim:
A modular assembly structured to assume either a box-shaped shipping container configuration or a building unit configuration, said modular assembly comprising: a housing which defines the shipping container configuration and at least a portion of the building unit configuration; a central frame comprising a plurality of vertical support members located at each corner of the housing, wherein the central frame defines an outside of the shipping container configuration; a plurality of frame panels disposable in a substantially closed, interconnected position to at least partially define the outside of the shipping container configuration, said plurality of frame panels pivotably connected to a lower part of said central frame such that the plurality of frame panels are pivotably disposed outwardly from the lower part of said central frame into an opened position to at least partially define a floor portion of the building unit configuration; a plurality of unit panels pivotably connected to an upper part of said central frame, and in a closed position are aligned with said frame panels being in said closed position, said plurality of unit panels pivotably disposable outwardly from the upper part of said frame into an opened position to further at least partially define a ceiling portion of the building unit configuration; and a plurality of erection assemblies provided for erecting the plurality of frame panels and the plurality of unit panels, wherein each of the frame panels and each of the unit panels is configured to be manipulated by a respective corresponding erection assembly of the plurality of erection assemblies, wherein all of the plurality of erection assemblies include a plurality of erection members collectively disposable in an assembling position exteriorly of the housing, the plurality of erection members of each of the plurality of erection assemblies are supported exteriorly above a corresponding vertical support member of the plurality of vertical support members and extend exteriorly therefrom in the assembling position, and each of the plurality of erection assemblies, including the plurality of erection members, when in the assembling position, being structured to facilitate disposition of at least one of said frame panels in the building unit configuration.