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Foldable floor assembly for an expandable shelter

a shelter system and foldable technology, applied in the direction of transportation and packaging, transportation items, transportation vehicles, etc., can solve the problems of limited interior space for intended use, limited floor space of conventional portable shelters, and relatively high cos

Inactive Publication Date: 2015-10-29
MOBILE MEDICAL INT CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a foldable floor assembly that includes an outboard floor panel and an inboard floor panel that can move in a horizontal direction. When the floor assembly is unfolded, the inboard surface of a pivot rail on the floor assembly will move towards the outboard floor panel, providing a moment to support its weight. The floor assembly can also fold, with the outboard floor panel moving out of the floor plane and the inboard floor panel moving to a non-zero angle relative to the floor plane. The technical effects of this invention include an improved floor assembly that can move and fold for easy storage and use.

Problems solved by technology

While these types of motorized vehicles are able to transport themselves to a desired location, they typically provide limited interior space for the intended use, while also being relatively expensive.
The floor space of conventional portable shelters is limited by the fixed external dimensions of the shelter.

Method used

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  • Foldable floor assembly for an expandable shelter
  • Foldable floor assembly for an expandable shelter
  • Foldable floor assembly for an expandable shelter

Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0029]As noted above, embodiments of the technology disclosed herein have utility in shelters, including mobile shelters, having an expandable component. FIG. 1A depicts a portion of an exemplary fifth wheel trailer 100 that is part of a mobile shelter that includes structure generally forming a main shelter body 110 and includes components typically found in such a trailer including a chassis, body panels, signaling, braking, control and communication components. FIG. 1B depicts a rear view of the trailer 100. FIG. 1B further depicts sub-shelter assemblies 120 and 130 (which are not shown in FIG. 1A for purposes of clarity). As will be described in greater detail below, the sub-shelter assemblies 120 and 130 extend and retract in a direction normal to the longitudinal vertical plane 101 of the trailer 100.

[0030]The main shelter body 110 is characterized by a main shelter area 107 including a right side opening 112 and left side opening (not labeled) through which sub-shelter assemb...

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PUM

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Abstract

A foldable floor assembly, including an outboard floor panel apparatus including a bottom surface and a top usable surface generally extending in a floor plane and configured to be used when the foldable floor assembly is in an unfolded state and a pivot rail having an inboard surface, the pivot rail movable in a horizontal direction substantially parallel to the floor plane, wherein movement of the inboard surface of the pivot rail in the horizontal direction toward the outboard floor panel apparatus imparts a moment onto the outboard floor panel apparatus when the bottom surface of the outboard floor panel apparatus and the inboard surface of the pivot rail are in contact with one another.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Patent Application No. 61 / 666,272, filed on Jun. 29, 2012.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field[0003]The present application relates generally to an expandable shelter system, and more particularly, to a foldable floor for an expandable shelter system.[0004]2. Related Art[0005]Portable shelters are often used to provide temporary facilities for various purposes, such as military, civilian, and medical applications. Such portable shelters may be used to supplement permanent structures when additional space is desired, or to provide new facilities for temporary use, such as the provision of emergency response services after a disaster. Motorized vehicles, such as vans, buses, and recreational vehicles (RVs), etc., may be used as portable shelters under certain circumstances. While these types of motorized vehicles are able to transport themselves to a desired location, they typically provide limited interior sp...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): E04B5/43E04B1/344E04B1/343
CPCE04B5/43E04B1/34336E04B1/3442E04B1/3441E04B1/34357B60P3/34B62D53/067B62D63/061E04B1/343
Inventor CANTIN, PHILIP T.WHITE, JUSTIN M.
Owner MOBILE MEDICAL INT CORP