US4546578A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transportable holding assembly for rapid erection of buildings
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1984-08-15
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Granted: 1985-10-15
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Expires: 2004-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A container assembly for rapid erection of portable buildings meets the following requirements: it is transportable by a single truck tractor, has dimensions which are customary and permissible for highway transport, and may be quickly erected on-site by simple means, whereby its floor space in the use mode is multiplied over that in the transporting mode and comprises two side containers swingably linked to a central container on the two longitudinal sides of the central container, whereby said side containers swing inwardly to fit one into the other and over the central container. When the assembly is in the swung-in transporting and storing position the available floor space is reduced to approximately one-third of that in the swung-out use position. The container assembly is particularly advantageous for use as a mobile hospital.
Inventors
- 👤 Georg Behrmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:25
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/343; E04B1/34336
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
295 words
A transportable container assembly for rapid erection of portable buildings comprising: (a) a middle container having a generally box-like shape with longitudinal side walls, end walls, a floor and a roof, and two side containers each extending along one of the longitudinal sides of the middle container and having one longitudinal side wall, two end walls, a floor and a roof; (b) means to pivotably connect each of the two side containers to the middle container so that each side container is pivotably movable through approximately 90°, between a swung-in transporting and storing position and a swung-out use position, about a pivot axis which passes approximately through the respective lower adjacent corners of the end walls of the middle and side containers; (c) the first side container having an internal length greater than that of the middle container by an amount at least equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the two end-walls of said middle container; (d) the second side container having an internal length greater than that of said first side container by an amount at least equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the two end walls of said first container; (e) the internal width of the first side container being at least slightly greater than the height of said middle container, and the internal width of said second side container being greater than that of said first side container by an amount at least approximately equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the longitudinal side wall and roof of the first side container; and (f) means for moving the roofs of the two respective side containers between a transporting and storing position parallel and adjacent to the respective longitudinal side walls and an installed roof position for use.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
295 words
A transportable container assembly for rapid erection of portable buildings comprising: (a) a middle container having a generally box-like shape with longitudinal side walls, end walls, a floor and a roof, and two side containers each extending along one of the longitudinal sides of the middle container and having one longitudinal side wall, two end walls, a floor and a roof; (b) means to pivotably connect each of the two side containers to the middle container so that each side container is pivotably movable through approximately 90°, between a swung-in transporting and storing position and a swung-out use position, about a pivot axis which passes approximately through the respective lower adjacent corners of the end walls of the middle and side containers; (c) the first side container having an internal length greater than that of the middle container by an amount at least equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the two end-walls of said middle container; (d) the second side container having an internal length greater than that of said first side container by an amount at least equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the two end walls of said first container; (e) the internal width of the first side container being at least slightly greater than the height of said middle container, and the internal width of said second side container being greater than that of said first side container by an amount at least approximately equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the longitudinal side wall and roof of the first side container; and (f) means for moving the roofs of the two respective side containers between a transporting and storing position parallel and adjacent to the respective longitudinal side walls and an installed roof position for use.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: load-bearing means provided at the ends of the chassis of the middle container for supporting the side containers in the swung-in position thereof so that a side edge of each of the end walls of each of the side containers rests against said load-bearing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: cross beams provided on the roof of the middle container for supporting the side containers in the swung-in position of said containers, so that the longitudinal side of said first side container rests against said cross beams.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: means for pivotally mounting the roofs of the two side containers respectively at the upper edges of the respective longitudinal sides of the middle container so that the pivot axis of the roof of said second side container is higher from the floor than that of the roof of said first container by a distance corresponding to at least the thickness of the first roof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for moving the roofs of the two side containers comprises, hoisting means operatively connected to said roofs, respectively, to hoist said roofs to convert them to the use position, so that after being fully-hoisted to the upper edge of a respective longitudinal side wall, said roofs are downwardly swingable around a respective pivot point on the upper edge of the respective longitudinal side wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein said hoisting means comprises, a pair of masts each of which is disposed adjacent each respective longitudinal side wall of said side containers, and a pulley mounted on each mast to facilitate the hoisting of the roofs parallel to the longitudinal sides.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising, sealing means and locking elements provided in the edge regions of the longitudinal side- and end-walls of the side containers respectively, to ensure sealed joints between the side containers and the middle container, and between the side container roofs and the respective side containers in the position for use.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising hoisting devices operatively connected to said side containers, respectively, for swinging the side containers about said pivot axes between said swung-in and swung-out positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein said hoisting devices comprise gripper hoists.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 9 and further comprising a pulley and a cable operatively associated with each gripper hoist disposed laterally with respect to each hoist in a plane parallel to the end wall of the middle container, said pulley being vertically adjustable to vary its axis of rotation, and attachment means for each cable on each side container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein said pulleys and pivot axes and the centers of gravity of the side containers, respectively, are positioned with respect to each other so that when the center of gravity of a side container is positioned over its respective pivot axis the distance between the pulley and the respective attachment neans where said cable attaches to the side container is as short as possible.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising: means for pivotally mounting the roofs of the two side containers respectively at the upper edges of the respective longitudinal sides of the middle container so that the pivot axis of the roof of said second side container is higher from the floor than that of the roof of said first container by a distance corresponding to at least the thickness of the first roof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for moving the roofs of the two side containers comprises, hoisting means operatively connected to said roofs, respectively, to hoist said roofs to convert them to the use position, so that after being fully-hoisted to the upper edge of a respective longitudinal side wall, said roofs are downwardly swingable around a respective pivot point on the upper edge of the respective longitudinal side wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
75 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for moving the roofs of the two side containers comprises, hoisting means operatively connected to said roofs, respectively, to hoist said roofs to convert them to the use position, so that after being fully-hoisted to the upper edge of a respective longitudinal side wall, said roofs are downwardly swingable around a respective pivot point on the upper edge of the respective longitudinal side wall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 2 and further comprising, sealing means and locking elements provided in the edge regions of the longitudinal side- and end-walls of the side containers respectively, to ensure sealed joints between the side containers and the middle container, and between the side container roofs and the respective side containers in the position for use.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 6 and further comprising, sealing means and locking elements provided in the edge regions of the longitudinal side- and end-walls of the side containers respectively, to ensure sealed joints between the side container roofs and the respective side containers in the position for use.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The container assembly as claimed in claim 6 and further comprising hoisting devices operatively connected to said side containers, respectively, for swinging the side containers about said pivot axes between said swung-in and swung-out positions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein said pulleys and pivot axes and the centers of gravity of the side containers, respectively, are positioned with respect to each other so that when the center of gravity of a side container is positioned over its respective pivot axis the distance between the pulley and the respective attachment means where said cable attaches to the side container is as short as possible.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
72 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein said pulleys and pivot axes and the centers of gravity of the side containers, respectively, are positioned with respect to each other so that when the center of gravity of a side container is positioned over its respective pivot axis the distance between the pulley and the respective attachment means where said cable attaches to the side container is as short as possible.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
A container assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein said pulleys and pivot axes and the centers of gravity of the side containers, respectively, are positioned with respect to each other so that when the center of gravity of a side container is positioned over its respective pivot axis the distance between the pulley and the respective attachment means where said cable attaches to the side container is as short as possible.
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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) | 1988-10-14 | 1989-04-15 | 1989-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-10-14 | 1993-04-15 | 1993-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-10-14 | 1997-04-15 | 1997-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |