US4035964A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Foldable enclosure
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-11-14
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Granted: 1977-07-19
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Expires: 1995-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A foldable shed or enclosure consisting of a rear wall, a front wall including a door, centrally foldable side walls hinged at their front and rear edges to the side edges of the front and rear walls, a floor hinged to the bottom margin of the rear wall and a roof connected at rear side edge portions thereof to the upper side edge portions of the rear wall by link bars. A foldable strut bar is pivotally and swivelly connected to the top marginal portions of the front sections of the foldable side walls, the strut bar having a locking mechanism which locks its segments in horizontal positions when the side walls are unfolded to their planar positions. By raising the floor against the rear wall, unlocking the strut bar, folding the side walls inwardly and folding the roof downwardly, the shed can be folded to a compact flat condition with the roof and link bars acting to clamp the parts together.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth J. Robinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 04:07
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/343; E04B1/344; E04B1/3445; E04B1/345
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A foldable enclosure comprising a front wall, a rear wall, respective opposite foldable side walls hinged to the side edges of said front and rear walls, each side wall comprising a plurality of vertically hinged, inwardly swingable sections, a floor member hinged to the bottom marginal portion of said rear wall and being foldable upwardly to an upright position substantially parallel to and adjacent to said rear wall, a roof member, and means swingably connecting said roof member to the opposite side edges of said rear wall so that said roof member can be at times folded to a position parallel to said rear wall with the floor member, folded side walls and front wall interposed between the roof member and said rear wall, said swingable connecting means including means for holding down said roof member when said enclosure is in its unfolded position and for exerting a clamping force between said rear wall and said roof member when said enclosure is in its folded position, and wherein said swingable connecting means comprises a pair of link bars diagonally connecting the rear portions of the side edges of the roof member to the upper portions of the side edges of the rear wall, so as to provide said holding down and clamping actions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A foldable enclosure comprising a front wall, a rear wall, respective opposite foldable side walls hinged to the side edges of said front and rear walls, each side wall comprising a plurality of vertically hinged, inwardly swingable sections, a floor member hinged to the bottom marginal portion of said rear wall and being foldable upwardly to an upright position substantially parallel to and adjacent to said rear wall, a roof member, and means swingably connecting said roof member to the opposite side edges of said rear wall so that said roof member can be at times folded to a position parallel to said rear wall with the floor member, folded side walls and front wall interposed between the roof member and said rear wall, said swingable connecting means including means for holding down said roof member when said enclosure is in its unfolded position and for exerting a clamping force between said rear wall and said roof member when said enclosure is in its folded position, and wherein said swingable connecting means comprises a pair of link bars diagonally connecting the rear portions of the side edges of the roof member to the upper portions of the side edges of the rear wall, so as to provide said holding down and clamping actions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The foldable enclosure of claim 1, and wherein said roof member and rear wall are provided with side flanges and said link bars are connected to said side flanges respectively of the roof members and rear wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The foldable enclosure of claim 2, and wherein said foldable side walls each comprises a forward section and a rearward section hinged together and foldable inwardly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The foldable enclosure of claim 3, and wherein said forward and rearward side wall sections are unfoldable to substantially flush configurations located inwardly adjacent to said roof member side flanges.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
194 words
A foldable enclosure comprising a front wall, a rear wall, respective opposite foldable side walls hinged to the side edges of said front and rear walls, each side wall comprising a plurality of vertically hinged, inwardly swingable sections, a floor member hinged to the bottom marginal portion of said rear wall and being foldable upwardly to an upright position substantially parallel to and adjacent to said rear wall, a roof member, and means swingably connecting said roof member to the opposite side edges of said rear wall so that said roof member can be at times folded to a position parallel to said rear wall with the floor member, folded side walls and front wall interposed between the roof member and said rear wall, and brace strut means connected between a pair of opposed inwardly swingable sections of said foldable side walls, comprising a pair of brace bars, means pivotally and swivelly connecting said brace bars respectively to the opposed inwardly swingable side wall sections and means pivotally connecting said brace bars at their inner ends, so that said brace strut means is foldable when said inwardly swingable sections move inwardly towards each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
194 words
A foldable enclosure comprising a front wall, a rear wall, respective opposite foldable side walls hinged to the side edges of said front and rear walls, each side wall comprising a plurality of vertically hinged, inwardly swingable sections, a floor member hinged to the bottom marginal portion of said rear wall and being foldable upwardly to an upright position substantially parallel to and adjacent to said rear wall, a roof member, and means swingably connecting said roof member to the opposite side edges of said rear wall so that said roof member can be at times folded to a position parallel to said rear wall with the floor member, folded side walls and front wall interposed between the roof member and said rear wall, and brace strut means connected between a pair of opposed inwardly swingable sections of said foldable side walls, comprising a pair of brace bars, means pivotally and swivelly connecting said brace bars respectively to the opposed inwardly swingable side wall sections and means pivotally connecting said brace bars at their inner ends, so that said brace strut means is foldable when said inwardly swingable sections move inwardly towards each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The foldable enclosure of claim 5, and means to lock the brace bars in substantially horizontal positions to hold the sections of the side walls in substantially coplanar unfolded relationship.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The foldable enclosure of claim 6, and wherein said locking means comprises a latch element on one of the brace bars and means on the other brace bar lockingly engageable with said latch element when the brace bars are moved toward horizontal positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
The foldable enclosure of claim 7, and wherein said one of the brace bars is provided with spring means urging said latch element toward locking position and the locking means on the other brace bar comprises an aperture formed in said other brace bar and located to cammingly interengage with said latch element and to allow the latch element to pass therethrough and move to locking position when the brace bars reach substantially horizontal positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The foldable enclosure of claim 8, and wherein the means pivotably and swivelly connecting the brace bars to the opposed side wall sections comprises respective yoke members vertically pivoted to the side wall sections, and horizontal pin means pivotally connecting the outer ends of the brace bars to said yoke members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
170 words
A foldable enclosure comprising a front wall, a rear wall, respective opposite foldable side walls hinged to the side edges of said front and rear walls, each side wall comprising a plurality of vertically hinged, inwardly swingable sections, a floor member hinged to the bottom marginal portion of said rear wall and being foldable upwardly to an upright position substantially parallel to and adjacent to said rear wall, a roof member, and means swingably connecting said roof member to the opposite side edges of said rear wall so that said roof member can be at times folded to a position parallel to said rear wall with the floor member, folded side walls and front wall interposed between the roof member and said rear wall, and brace strut means connected between a pair of opposed inwardly swingable sections of said foldable side walls and foldable inwardly of said side walls, so that when said enclosure is folded said brace strut means is enclosed between said roof member and said rear wall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
170 words
A foldable enclosure comprising a front wall, a rear wall, respective opposite foldable side walls hinged to the side edges of said front and rear walls, each side wall comprising a plurality of vertically hinged, inwardly swingable sections, a floor member hinged to the bottom marginal portion of said rear wall and being foldable upwardly to an upright position substantially parallel to and adjacent to said rear wall, a roof member, and means swingably connecting said roof member to the opposite side edges of said rear wall so that said roof member can be at times folded to a position parallel to said rear wall with the floor member, folded side walls and front wall interposed between the roof member and said rear wall, and brace strut means connected between a pair of opposed inwardly swingable sections of said foldable side walls and foldable inwardly of said side walls, so that when said enclosure is folded said brace strut means is enclosed between said roof member and said rear wall.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-18 | 1981-01-17 | 1981-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-18 | 1985-01-17 | 1985-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-18 | 1989-01-17 | 1989-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |