Foldable Structure Anchoring to Foundation Without Floor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional prefabricated structures require a floor structure for anchoring, limiting their compactness and efficiency in shipping and deployment, whereas the proposed foldable structure can be anchored directly to a concrete slab or foundation without a floor, allowing for a more compact folded form and efficient use of shipping containers.
Innovation Solution
The foldable structure is designed with pivotably coupled wall panels that can be folded to a compact condition for shipping and unfolded for occupation, featuring hinges and anchoring techniques that enable direct attachment to a foundation, eliminating the need for a floor structure and optimizing space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a floor structure is used for anchoring prefabricated structures, then the structure provides stable anchoring, but the structure occupies more shipping volume and reduces compactness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the floor structure from the prefabricated building system, extracting only the essential anchoring function. The walls are designed to be directly anchored to the foundation through integrated anchoring mechanisms, eliminating the intermediate floor structure while maintaining anchoring stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring function is merged directly into the wall structure. The walls incorporate integrated anchoring mechanisms that allow direct attachment to the foundation, combining the structural support and anchoring functions into a single integrated system rather than separate floor and wall components.
2Ease of manufacture
If a floor structure is included in prefabricated structures, then the structure provides complete flooring, but it limits compactness and efficiency in shipping and deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The floor structure is extracted from the prefabricated unit, with only the necessary anchoring function retained. The walls are designed to be directly anchored to the foundation, eliminating the need to manufacture, ship, and install separate floor structures while maintaining complete flooring coverage through the direct wall-to-foundation connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring mechanisms are pre-integrated into the wall structures during manufacturing, allowing for rapid deployment. The walls arrive at the site ready for direct anchoring to the foundation, eliminating the need for separate floor installation steps and accelerating the deployment process.
3Productivity
If multiple foldable structures are shipped in a standard container, then shipping volume efficiency is improved, but the structure requires more compact folded form
Solution Approach 1:
The building structure is segmented into individual wall panels that can be folded and stacked. Each wall panel is designed as an independent foldable unit with integrated anchoring mechanisms, allowing multiple structures to be compactly folded and stacked within a standard shipping container while maintaining the capability for direct foundation anchoring when deployed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for multiple foldable structures to be shipped in a standard container, reducing shipping volume and enabling rapid deployment with minimal site connections, as the structure can be anchored directly to the foundation, facilitating efficient and compact construction.
Implementation Method 1
a first wall panel pivotably coupled to a second wall panel
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable structure is adjustable between a folded condition for storage and shipping, and an unfolded condition for occupation by one or more users. The foldable structure may be substantially prefabricated at a manufacturing facility, transitioned into its folded condition, and placed into a shipping container for shipping to a destination site. A single foldable structure may be placed in the shipping container, or multiple foldable structures may fit in a standard shipping container. For example, in some embodiments, as many as six foldable structures may fit in a single standard shipping container.