WO2001094713A1

WO2001094713A1 - Foldable structural element

Info

Publication number: WO2001094713A1
Application number: PCT/FI2001/000530
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matti Olavi MÄKILÄ
Original assignee: Maekilae Matti Olavi
Priority date: 2000-06-07
Filing date: 2001-06-05
Publication date: 2001-12-13
Also published as: AU6398801A; FI20001357A0

Abstract

A collapsible structural element (1) for producing various multi-purpose premises, which multi-purpose premises are at least for the main part comprised of one or more such structural elements (1). The collapsible structural element (1) comprises a frame part (2) forming the vertical wall of the structural element (1), the frame part having an aperture (3), the lower edge (8) of which is at a distance (a) from the lower edge (4) of the frame part (2), and a first roof part (6) attached to the upper part (5) of the frame part (2) in a turning manner by means of an articulation (15). The first roof part (6) is arranged to be locked at a desired angle (α) with respect to the frame part (2) by means of a first floor element (9) fitted between the lower edge (8) of the aperture (3) in the frame part (2) and the first roof part (6).

Description

Foldable structural element.

The invention relates to a collapsible structural element for producing various multi-purpose premises, which multi-purpose premises are at least for the main part comprised of one or more such structural elements.

The aim of the invention is to provide a collapsible structural element which is easy to move and erect by manpower or by using light lifting apparatuses, of which elements can, by using one or more of them, be assembled various kinds of multi-purpose premises by joining together a desired number of elements by using simple connecting means.

This aim is achieved by means of the structural element according to claim 1, which is characterised in that the collapsible structural element comprises a frame part forming the vertical wall of the structural element, the frame part having an aperture, the lower edge of which is at a distance from the lower edge of the frame part, and a first roof part attached to the upper part of the frame part in a turning manner by means of an articulation, and that the first roof part is arranged to be locked at the desired angle with respect to the frame part by means of a first floor element fitted between the lower edge of the aperture in the frame part and the first roof part.

By means of the structural element relating to the invention, under the first roof part is formed a floor which is clearly above ground and can be utilised, for example, as a seat or sleeping quarters. From the viewpoint of transportation, the advantage of this floor solution is that, when folded, the length of the structural element remains short compared with a solution where the floor would be almost at ground level.

In the most simplistic version, the structural element according to the invention can be used as a kind of lean-to, which consists of a single structural element of this type. The first roof part is arranged to form a roof above the first floor element. It is advantageous to attach a second roof part to the upper part of the first roof part as an extension, whereby the roof of the structural element relating to the invention will extend also to the front side of the frame part forming the vertical wall of the structural element.

Further preferable developments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The invention is described in greater detail in the following, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows the structural element according to the invention when erected.

Figure 2 shows the structural element according to the invention as seen from the direction of arrow II in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows the structural element according to the invention when folded.

Figure 4 shows a side view of a solution where two structural elements according to the invention are fitted against each other.

Figure 5 shows a top view of a solution in which four structural elements according to the invention are fitted together.

Figure 6 shows a structural element according to a second embodiment of the invention when erected.

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic side view of a collapsible structural element 1 for producing various multi-purpose premises, which multi-purpose premises are at least for the main part comprised of one or more such structural elements 1. The collapsible structural element 1 comprises a frame part 2, which is the shape of, for example, a square, most preferably the shape of a rectangle or trapezium, which forms the vertical wall of the structural element, the frame part having an aperture 3, as seen best in Figure 2, the lower edge 8 of which aperture is at a distance a from the lower edge 4 of the frame part 2. Adjacent to the aperture 3 in the frame part 2 may be, for example, a door or window opening (not shown).

To the upper part 5 of the frame part 2 is attached a first and a second roof part 6, 7 in a turning manner by means of an articulation 15. The first roof part 6, which forms the lower part of the roof when the structural element 1 is erected, is arranged to be locked at a desired angle α with respect to the frame part 2 by means of a first floor element 9 fitted between the lower edge of the aperture 3 in the frame part 2 and the first roof part 6.

In the example shown in Figure 1 , the first floor element 9 is attached at its end on the side of the first roof part 6 by means of an articulation to the first roof part 6, and correspondingly, in the area of its opposite end, the floor element 9 is locked by means of a bolt means 13 - in the example in the Figure by means of a U-profile fixed to the lower surface of the floor element 9 - to the lower edge 8 of the aperture 3. Alternatively, the end of the floor element 9 on the side of the aperture 3 may be fixed in an articulated manner and the opposite end may be locked in place.

To a part 14 below the aperture 3 in the frame part 2 is attached, in an articulated manner (not shown) or in an otherwise supported manner (Figure 1), a second floor element 10. The said second floor element 10 is obviously not required for all solutions, in which case the ground forms the floor.

The first floor element 9 is located at a higher level in comparison to the second floor element 10 (or lower edge 4 of the frame part 2). The difference in the level is most preferably such that the first floor element 9 can be used conveniently as a sitting surface or a sleeping base. In the example shown in Figure 1 , the first and second roof parts 6, 7 are joined with each other by means of an articulation 11. In such a case, the structural element 1 can be folded according to Figure 3 into as short a package as possible for transportation. Then again, the first and second roof parts 6, 7 can be formed into an integrated piece, whereby the erection of the structural element 1 is facilitated, but the transportation length of the element 1 becomes greater.

The first roof part 6 is most preferably always rectangular. Should it be desir- able, for example, for reasons of appearance or otherwise, to design the first roof part 6, especially at its lower edge, in a different manner, this is quite possible.

The second roof part 7 varies in shape and is, for example, rectangular or an equal-sided triangle depending on the multi-purpose premises to be produced by means of the structural element 1 in question. In the example shown in Figure 4, where two structural elements 1 have been joined against each other, the second roof parts 7 are triangular.

In the solution shown in Figure 4, the roof parts 6, 7 of the structural elements 1 against each other form a ridge roof, whereby the ends of the premises thus formed remain open or, if necessary, can be closed partly or completely by means of separately installed wall pieces; see the triangular piece shown by a line of dots and dashes on the right-hand side of Figure 4.

In the solution shown in Figure 5 is formed a pyramid-like roof, in which case the roof parts 7 can be joined with each other, for example, by using suitable profile laths (not shown).

For joining the structural elements 1 with each other can be used various connecting profiles (not shown) known as such, or similar connecting means. The parts of the structural elements 1 are most preferably made of different plate-like pieces. The choice of material is made on the basis of the requirements made by the intended use of the structural element 1 in each case.

Figure 6 shows diagrammatically a structural element 1 according to the second embodiment of the invention. The solution differs from the solution shown in Figure 1 primarily in that in the space limited by the first floor element 9, the first roof element 6 and the aperture 3 in the frame part 2 is fitted a box-like piece 16, the mouth of which is at the aperture 3.

In addition to the separate box 16 fixed most preferably by means of fasteners 18 to the roof part 6 and the floor element 9, the box-like structure can also be accomplished so that separate triangular end pieces 17 are fixed to the roof part 6 and the floor element 9.

This type of structural element cannot be folded as shown in Figure 3, unless the box-like piece 16, or alternatively the end pieces 17, are first removed. In the solution shown in Figure 6, the most important aspect is, however, that it makes possible for the first roof part 6 to turn around the articulation 15, whereby the lower end of the roof part 6 settles against the lower part 14 of the frame part 2. At the same time, the floor element 9 and the box-like piece 16 (or end pieces 17) move to the opposite side of the frame part 2 aperture 3.

The structural element 1 is locked to the position shown in Figure 6 by means of one or more bolts marked by reference numeral 19. The free arm of an angle iron fixed to the floor element 9 is locked by means of a bolt 19 comprised of, for example, a screw and a nut, to the lower part 14 of the frame part 2. Correspondingly, the element 1 can be locked in its other extreme position by pressing the lower end of the roof part 6 against the lower part 14 of the frame part 2, for example by means of screws (not shown) extending through the said parts.

Turning the projection to the inwards in the solution according to Figure 6, or correspondingly, folding the element in the solution according to Figure 1 is particularly important especially when multi-purpose premises assembled of such elements are to be moved as a whole from one place to another, because in this way the external dimensions of the structure can be substantially reduced for the duration of transportation.

In the example shown in Figure 6, the articulation 15 is at the upper edge of the aperture 3, whereby the roof of the multi-purpose premises must be arranged of separate components, contrary to the solution shown in Figure 1, in which a second roof part 7 articulated to the first roof part 6 can be used. In the solution according to Figure 6, the second roof part 7 may obviously be articulated (not shown) to the upper part 5 of the frame part 2.

In the example shown in Figure 6, the floor element 9 is in an inclined position to enable the structure to move past the lower part 14 of the frame part 2. Alternatively, a part of the lower part 14 can be arranged to be bendable.

To form a horizontal sleeping base or sitting surface, a plane marked with reference numeral 20 is provided. The space remaining under it can be used, for example, as storage space.

Claims

1. A collapsible structural element (1) for producing various multi-purpose premises, which multi-purpose premises are at least for the main part com- prised of one or more such structural elements (1), characterised in that the collapsible structural element (1) comprises a frame part (2) forming the vertical wall of the structural element (1), the frame part having an aperture (3), the lower edge (8) of which is at a distance (a) from the lower edge (4) of the frame part (2), and a first roof part (6) attached to the upper part (5) of the frame part (2) in a turning manner by means of an articulation (15), and that the first roof part (6) is arranged to be locked at a desired angle (α) with respect to the frame part (2) by means of a first floor element (9) fitted between the lower edge (8) of the aperture (3) in the frame part (2) and the first roof part (6).

2. A structural element as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the first floor element (9) is attached at one end by means of an articulation (12) to the first roof part (6) or to the lower edge (8) of the aperture (3), and correspondingly, in the area of its opposite end, locked by means of a bolt means (13) to the lower edge (8) of the aperture (3) or the first roof part (6).

3. A structural element as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that to a part (14) below the aperture (3) in the frame part (2) is attached, in an articulated or otherwise supported manner, a second floor element (10).

4. A structural element as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the first floor element (9) is located at a higher level in comparison to the second floor element (10).

5. A structural element as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that to the upper part of the first roof part (6) is attached a second roof part (7) as an extension, and that the first and second roof parts (6, 7) are joined with each other by means of an articulation (11).

6. A structural element as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that to the upper end of the first roof part (6) is attached a second roof part (7) as an extension, and that the first and second roof parts (6, 7) are formed into an integrated piece.

7. A structural element as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the first roof part (6) is rectangular.

8. A structural element as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the second roof part (7) is rectangular.

9. A structural element as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the second roof part (7) is the shape of an equal-sided triangle.

10. A structural element as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that in the space limited by the first floor element (9), the first roof element (6) and the aperture (3) in the frame part (2) is fitted or formed a box-like piece (16), the mouth of which is at the aperture (3), and that the floor element (9) and the box-like piece (16) are arranged to turn together with respect to the articulation (15).