Expandable shelter system
A side expandable shelter system having a transport mode in which a side expandable section(s) is completely nested within an (ISO-style) main shelter section, and a deployment mode in which the side expandable section is completely protracted from the main shelter section. The side expandable shelter system comprises a flooring structure for the side expandable section provided by a hinged flooring panel assembly consisting of at least two floor panels hinged together so that they can be stacked compactly in a vertical direction when the side expandable section is retracted within the main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completed contained therewithin its transport mode, and extended in horizontal direction when the side expandable section is projected from the main shelter section during the deployment mode. Both single and double side expandable shelter systems are provided.
1. A single-side expandable shelter system having a transport mode in which a side expandable shelter section is completely nested within a main shelter section having a main floor surface, and a deployment mode in which said side expandable section is completely protracted from said main shelter section, said single-side expandable shelter system comprising:
a side flooring structure with a side floor surface provided by a hinged flooring panel assembly comprising at least first and second floor panels hinged together for stacking compactly in a vertically elongated direction when said side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode;
wherein said side expandable section includes a front wall panel, a top panel, and first and second side panels, fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and said foldable flooring assembly;
wherein said first and second floor panels are hinged together at a point and also with the bottom of said front wall panel and the edge of the main floor structure of said main shelter section; and
wherein said main floor surface and said side floor surface are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode.
2. The single-side expandable shelter system of claim 1 , wherein equipment is permanently mounted on said main floor surface of said main shelter section; and wherein said side expandable shelter section has an interior volume that is substantially the same as the interior volume of said main shelter section, thereby maximizing the total utilizable volume of said single-side expandable shelter system during said deployment mode.
3. The single-side expandable shelter system of claim 1 , wherein equipment is permanently mounted to the upper half of the three side panels of said expandable shelter section, thereby allowing for permanent interconnection of said equipment.
4. The single-side expandable shelter system of claim 1 , which further comprises a side expandable section support mechanism for supporting said side expandable shelter section during said deployment mode.
5. A double side expandable shelter system comprising:
a main shelter section having a main floor structure with a main floor surface;
a first side expandable shelter section having (i) a first front wall panel, a first top panel and first side panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other and (ii) a first flooring structure with a first side floor surface provided by a first hinged flooring panel assembly including at least first and second floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
a second side expandable shelter section having (i) a second front wall panel, a second top panel and second side panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and (ii) a second flooring structure with a second side floor surface provided by a second hinged flooring panel assembly including at least third and fourth floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
a transport mode in which said first and second side expandable shelter sections are completely nested within said main shelter section; and
a deployment mode in which said first and second side expandable shelter sections are completely protracted from said main shelter section;
wherein said first hinged flooring panel assembly is folded in a vertical manner when said first side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode;
wherein said second hinged flooring panel assembly is folded in a vertical manner when said second side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode;
wherein said first hinged flooring panel assembly can be unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said first side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
wherein said second hinged flooring panel assembly can be unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said second side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
wherein said first and second floor panels are hinged together at a point and with the bottom of said front wall panel and to the edge of the floor structure of said main shelter section; and
wherein said main floor surface and said first and second side floor surfaces are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode.
6. A single-side expandable shelter system comprising:
a main shelter section having a main floor surface;
a side expandable shelter section having a flooring structure with a side floor surface provided by a hinged flooring panel assembly including at least first and second floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
a transport mode in which said side expandable shelter section is completely nested within said main shelter section; and
a deployment mode in which said side expandable shelter section is completely protracted from said main shelter section, and where said main floor surface and said side floor surface are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode;
wherein said at least first and second floor panels are stacked compactly in a vertical direction when said side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode; and
wherein said at least first and second floor panels are unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
wherein said side expandable shelter section comprises a front wall panel, a top panel, and first and second side panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and said hinged flooring panel assembly, and
wherein said at least first and second floor panels are hinged together at a point and with the bottom of said front wall panel and the edge of said floor surface of said main shelter section.
7. The single-side expandable shelter system of claim 6 , wherein equipment can be permanently mounted on said floor structure of said main shelter section; and said expandable shelter side section has an interior volume that is substantially the same as the interior volume of said main shelter section, thereby maximizing the total utilizable volume of said single side expandable shelter system in said deployment mode.
8. The single-side expandable shelter system of claim 6 , wherein equipment is permanently mounted to the upper half of the three side panels in said side expandable shelter section, thereby allowing for permanent interconnection of said equipment.
9. The single-side expandable shelter system of claim 6 , which further comprises a side expandable section support mechanism for supporting said side expandable section during said deployment mode.
10. A plurality of single or double side expandable shelter systems of claim 6 , 1 or 5 docked together to form a larger functioning unit, such as a command center, or medical hospital, for use in diverse field applications.
11. A command, control and communications (C3) systems comprising said expandable shelter system of claim 6 , 1 or 5 .
12. A medical station comprising said expandable shelter system of claim 6 , 1 or 5 .
13. A single-side expandable shelter system comprising:
a main shelter section having a main floor surface;
a side expandable shelter section having (i) side and top panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and (ii) a flooring structure with a side floor surface provided by a hinged flooring panel assembly including at least two floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
a transport mode in which said side expandable shelter section is completely nested within said main shelter section; and
a deployment mode in which said side expandable shelter section is completely protracted from said main shelter section;
wherein said at least two floor panels are stacked compactly in a vertical direction when said side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode; and
wherein said at least two floor panels are unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
wherein said main shelter section includes (i) a main floor structure supporting said main floor surface, beneath which a replaceable full-length skid structure is affixed thereto, (ii) a top panel, a front panel with a front door having open and closed configurations, and (iii) first and second side panels interconnected within a framework constructed from a frame member and being fixedly arranged with respect to each other, so as to form a five-sided box container with an open side along its length dimension;
wherein said main floor surface and said side floor surface are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode.
14. A single-side expandable shelter system comprising:
a main shelter section having a main floor section with a main floor surface;
a side expandable shelter section having (i) side and top panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and (ii) a flooring structure with a side floor surface provided by a hinged flooring panel assembly including at least first and second floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
a transport mode in which said side expandable shelter section is completely nested within said main shelter section; and
a deployment mode in which said side expandable shelter section is completely protracted from said main shelter section and where said main floor surface and said side floor surface are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode;
a side expandable section support mechanism for supporting said side expandable shelter section during said deployment mode;
wherein said at least first and second floor panels are stacked compactly in a vertical direction when said side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode; and
wherein said at least first and second floor panels are unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
wherein said side expandable section support mechanism includes a pair of hinged horizontally-extending expansion section support members that are hingedly connected at one end to the bottom exterior of said main shelter section, and to their other ends by a pair of diagonally-extending support members connected to the top portion of said main shelter section.
15. A double side expandable shelter system comprising:
a main shelter section;
a first side expandable shelter section having side and top panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and a first flooring structure with a first side floor surface provided by a first hinged flooring panel assembly including at least first and second floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
a second side expandable shelter section having side and top panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and a second flooring structure with a second side floor surface provided by a second hinged flooring panel assembly including at least second and third floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
a transport mode in which said side expandable shelter sections are completely nested within said main shelter section; and
a deployment mode in which said side expandable shelter sections are completely protracted from said main shelter section;
wherein said first hinged flooring panel assembly is folded in a vertical manner when said first side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, as to be completed contained therewithin during said transport mode;
wherein said second hinged flooring panel assembly is folded in a vertical manner when said second side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner,so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode;
wherein said first hinged flooring panel assembly can be unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said first side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
wherein said second hinged flooring panel assembly can be unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said second side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode; and
wherein said main shelter section has (i) a main floor structure with a main floor surface, beneath which a replaceable full-length skid structure is affixed thereto, (ii) a top panel, a front panel with a front door having open and closed configurations, and (iii) first and second side panels interconnected within a framework constructed from frame member and being fixedly arranged with respect to said top and front panels, so as to form a five-sided box container with an open side along its length dimension; and
wherein said main floor surface and said first and second side floor surfaces are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode.
16. The double side expandable shelter system of claim 15 , wherein equipment is permanently mounted on said main floor sfurface of said main shelter section; and said first and second side expandable shelter sections each have an interior volume that is substantially the same as the interior volume of said main shelter section, thereby maximizing the total utilizable volume of said double side expandable shelter system in said deployment mode.
17. The double side expandable shelter system of claim 15 , wherein equipment is permanently mounted to the upper half of the three side walls of at least one of said first and second side expandable shelter sections, thereby allowing for permanent interconnection of said equipment.
18. A single-side expandable shelter system having a transport mode in which a side expandable section is completely nested within a main shelter section, and a deployment mode in which said side expandable section is completely protracted from said main shelter section, said single-side expandable shelter system comprising:
said side expandable section including side and top panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and
a side flooring structure with a side floor surface provided by a hinged flooring panel assembly including at least first and second floor panels hinged together for stacking compactly in a vertically elongated direction when said side expandable section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode; and
wherein said main shelter section including (i) a main floor structure having a main floor surface, beneath which a replaceable full-length skid structure is affixed to said main floor structure, (ii) a top panel, a front panel with a front door having open and closed configurations, and (iii) first and second side panels interconnected within a framework constructed from a frame member and fixedly arranged with respect to said top and front panels, so as to form a five-sided box container with an open side along its length dimension; and
wherein said main floor surface and said side floor surface are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode.
19. A single-side expandable shelter system having a transport mode in which a side expandable section is completely nested within a main shelter section with a main floor surface, and a deployment mode in which said side expandable section is completely protracted from said main shelter section, said single-side expandable shelter system comprising:
side and top panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other; and
a flooring structure with a side floor surface provided by a hinged flooring panel assembly including at least two floor panels hinged together for stacking compactly in a vertically elongated direction when said side expandable section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode; and
a side expandable section support mechanism for supporting said side expandable section during said deployment mode;
wherein said side expandable section support mechanism includes a pair of hinged horizontally-extending expansion section support members that are hingedly connected at one end to the bottom exterior of said main shelter section, and to their other ends by a pair of diagonally-extending support members connected to the top portion of said main shelter section; and
wherein said main floor surface and said side floor surface are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode.
20. A double side expandable shelter system comprising:
a main shelter section with a main floor surface;
a first side expandable shelter section having (i) a first front wall panel, a first top panel and first side panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and (ii) a first flooring structure with a first side floor surface provided by a first hinged flooring panel assembly including at least first and second floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
a second side expandable shelter section having (i) a second front wall panel, a second top panel and second side panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and (ii) a second flooring structure with a second side floor surface provided by a second hinged flooring panel assembly including at least third and fourth floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said second side expandable shelter section;
a transport mode in which said side expandable shelter sections are completely nested within said main shelter section; and
a deployment mode in which said side expandable shelter sections are completely protracted from said main shelter section;
wherein said first hinged flooring panel assembly is folded in a vertical manner when said first side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode;
wherein said second hinged flooring panel assembly is folded in a vertical manner when said second side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode;
wherein said first hinged flooring panel assembly can be unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said first side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
wherein said second hinged flooring panel assembly can be unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said second side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
wherein said first and second floor panels are hinged together at a point and with the bottom of said front wall panel and the edge of the main floor structure of said main shelter section and
wherein said main floor surface and said first and second side floor surfaces are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode.
21. The double expandable shelter system of claim 20 , which further comprises: a first side expandable section support mechanism for supporting said first side expandable shelter section during said deployment mode; and a second side expandable section support mechanism for supporting said second side expandable shelter section during said deployment mode.
22. An expandable shelter system comprising:
a main shelter section having a floor structure with a main floor surface;
a side expandable shelter section having a flooring structure with a side floor surface provided by a hinged flooring panel assembly including at least first and second floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
a transport mode in which said side expandable shelter section is substantially nested within said main shelter section; and
a deployment mode in which said side expandable shelter section is substantially protracted from said main shelter section;
wherein said at least first and second floor panels are stacked compactly in a vertical direction when said side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be substantially contained therewithin during said transport mode; and
wherein said at least first and second floor panels are unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
wherein said side expandable shelter section comprises a front wall panel, a top panel, and first and second side panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and said hinged flooring panel assembly;
wherein said at least first and second floor panels are hinged together at a point and with the bottom of said front wall panel and to the edge of the main floor structure of said main shelter section; and
wherein said main floor surface and said side floor surface are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode.
23. The expandable shelter system of claim 22 , wherein equipment is mounted on said floor structure of said main shelter section; and
wherein said side expandable shelter section has an interior volume that is substantially the same as the interior volume of said main shelter section, thereby maximizing the total utilizable volume of said expandable shelter system in said deployment mode.
24. The expandable shelter system of claim 22 , wherein equipment is mounted to the upper half of the three side panels of said side expandable shelter section, thereby allowing for interconnection of said equipment.
25. The expandable shelter system of claim 22 , which further comprises a side expandable section support mechanism for supporting said side expandable shelter section during said deployment mode.