US3139958A - Portable foldable building structure - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmvron.

BY 2zx 91 CLARENCE NEIL DE W177;

PATENTAGENZ July 7, 1964 c. N. DE WlTT PORTABLE FOLDABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 20, 1960 C. N. DE WlTT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 CLARENCE NEIL DE W/TT,

INVENTOR.

PATENT AGENT;

July 7, 1964 PORTABLE FOLDABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Dec.

July 7, 1 c. N. DE WlTT 3,139,958

PORTABLE FOLDABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 20, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 CLARENCE NEIL DEW/T7,

W gig? 7 INVENTOR.

fllIIII PATENTAGENZ July 7, 1964 c. N. DE WlTT PORTABLEFOLDABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec.

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PATENT AGEN7I July 7, 1964 c. N. DE WlTT PORTABLE FOLDABL EBUILDING STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec.

INVENTOR.

ATENTAGENZ United States Patent 3,139,958 PORTABLE FOLDABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE Clarence Neil De Witt, Canoga Park, Calif. (1310 Zehnder St., Sumner, Wash.) Filed Dec. 20, 196i), Ser. No. 77,228 21 Claims. (Cl. 189-2) This invention relates to a portable, foldable building structure and more particularly to a building structure of relatively rigid material which is easily and readily unfolded for erection at a desired site to provide a building affording maximum protection against the elements and foldable into a relatively compact package requiring a minimum of space for storage and/or portability.

More specifically, this invention provides a new and improved portable, foldable building structure comprising a foldable roof pivotally secured to a foldable wall structure. The roof includes a plurality of roof sections hingedly secured to each other along hinge lines radially converging to a common hub. The roof sections fold in accordion or, more specifically, in pleated fan fashion to juxatpose sections in substantially parallel face-to-face relationship and unfold to arrange the sections radially around the hub and form a roof having a substantially conical configuration. The wall means comprises a plurality of wall sections hingedly secured in edge-to-edge relationship, the wall sections being foldable into substantially parallel face-to-face relationship to each other and unfoldable into a vertical position of polygonal configuration underlying the roof for support thereof.

The roof and the wall, when folded, are pivotable relative to each other so as to further collapse the building into a condition wherein the wall sections are interleafed between the roof sections, thereby forming a compact folded package, taking up space approximating the sum of the component sections as though stacked.

Manually operable locking means are provided for easily and readily locking the roof and the wall means in their unfolded state, such releasable locking means being operable without the necessity of the use of extraneous tools or fasteners.

The building structure of the present invention pro vides means whereby a temporary shelter may be quickly and easily erected and equally easily and readily collapsed into a compact package for portability or storage. Anticipating the application of this invention to a building structure of relatively large proportion, roller means are provided to facilitate support of the building during the folding and unfolding operations to minimize friction of the bottom edges of the wall sections against the surface of the site. Secondary roller means are provided to support the compact package of the folded building when the wall sections are interleafed between the roof sections whereby the folded building may be easily and readily transported to its storage place or to a means of cartage.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved building structure which is foldable into a compact package of minimum size and unfoldable to provide a temporary, semi-permanent or permanent building structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved foldable building structure in which a roof and wall thereof are each foldable into packages having substantially minimal size of their accumulated component parts and further foldable one relative to the other so as to provide a folded package having a substantially 3,139,958 Patented July 7., 1964 minimal accumulated size of both the roof and the wall.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved foldable building structure which is portable in both its folded and unfolded conditions.

An important object of this invention is to provide a new and improved foldable building structure which cornprises component parts which are relatively rigid so as to provide an erected building structure having substantial rigidity and strength.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved foldable building structure of the character described which affords maximum protection from the elements of the weather in its unfolded and erected condition.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved foldable building structure of the character described which is lockable in its unfolded erected condition without the use of extraneous tools or fasteners.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved building structure of the character described which is economical to manufacture and capable of mass production.

A general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved foldable building structure of the character described which overcomes disadvantages of prior means and methods heretofore intended to accomplish generally similar purposes.

These and other objects of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the building structure of this invention, in an unfolded, erected condition;

FIGURE 2 is a side view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, horizontal cross-sectional view as taken substantially along theline 33 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 3a is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical crosssectional view as taken substantially along theline 3a-3a of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 4 is a side view, in elevation, of the building structure of this invention and an initial folded condition;

FIGURE 5 is a View, similar to FIGURE 4, illustrating the building structure in a final folded condition;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the structure of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, horizontal, cross-sectional view, as taken substantially along theline 77 of FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical, cross-sectional view as taken substantially along theline 88 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical, cross-sectional view as taken substantially along the line 99 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged, horizontal, cross-sectional view, as taken substantially along the line 101tl of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged, horizontal, cross-sectional view, as taken substantially along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary side view, in elevation, of a first wheel means capable of lifting and supporting the building structure;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary side view, in elevation, of a second roller means capable of supporting the build- 3 ing structure in its finally folded condition illustrated in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged and foreshortened, vertical, cross-sectional view, as taken substantially along the line 1414 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 14a is a fragmentary side view, as viewed along the line 14a14a of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 15 is a vertical, cross-sectional view illustrating disconnected locking means of FIGURE l4 in locked relationship; and

FIGURE 16 is a vertical, cross-sectional view, as viewed substantially along the line 16-16 of FIGURE 15.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown, by way of illustration, but not of limitation, a building structure designed and constructed in accordance with this invention and generally designated by thenumeral 20. Thebuilding structure 28 comprises afoldable roof 21 which, as best seen in FIGURE 2, is generally conical in configuration when unfolded, and an upright, plural-sectioned wall supporting theroof 21 and having a polygonal configuration, octagonal herein shown, when unfolded.

Theroof 21 comprises a plurality of relatively rigid sections indicated by thenumeral 22, the sections being substantially triangular in configuration and of equal size. Thesections 22 include relatively longer edges 23 and 24 which converge, radially relative to theroof 21, to an apex 26 adjacent to ahub 27 which is common to allsections 22 when unfolded.

Theroof sections 22 are juxtaposed in edge-to-edge relationship, with, for example, long edges 23, 24 of onesection 22 adjacent tolong edges 23, 24, respectively, ofadjacent sections 22, theadjacent edges 23, 24 being hingedly secured to enable folding of the roof in a manner to be hereinafter described. When unfolded, theroof 21, with its conical arrangement of thesections 22, definesridges 28 at theedges 24 andvalleys 29 at alternate hinged connections of theedges 23.

As best seen in FIGURE 8, eachridge 28 includes a longitudinal member having slopedsides 31 and 32 preferably reinforced as bytransverse brackets 33 secured to the underside thereof by fasteners, such asrivets 34, or the like. A pair of spaced,elongated socket members 36 are secured to the underside of themember 30, each including anelongated channel 37 in which elongatedbeads 38, secured to theends 23 and 24 ofadjacent sections 22, are rotatably disposed. Eachsocket member 36 provides limiting or stopshoulders 39 and 41 abuttable with aneck portion 42 of its associatedbead 38 to limit pivotal movement of thebead 38 within thechannels 37. The stops are less than 180 degrees apart so as to retain the beads within the channels. An end plate, indicated by thebroken line 43 in FIGURE 8 and in solid lines in FIGURE 2, is preferably secured to the outer open end of each of thechannel members 36 and spanning the open end to prevent linear movement or removal of thebead 38 within thechannel 37 after installation therein. Thebrackets 33 spanning the underside of theridge member 30, in addition to reinforcing the member, serve to support electrical conduits, as indicated at 44 in FIGURE 8, if desired, to service electrical appliances and fixtures.

It will be noted that by the instant construction, the ridge members hingedly secureadjacent roof sections 22 enabling folding of the sections from the unfolded position shown in FIGURE 8, determined by the limitingstop 39, to the folded position shown in FIGURE 14 determined by the limitingstop 41, wherein thesections 22 are substantially parallel.

Theroof sections 22 are preferably corrugated, pleated, or otherwise strengthened, as illustrated in cross-section in FIGURE 16 and indicated by the numeral 22. It is to be understood, however, that the sections may be fiat, laminated, or otherwise formed of a relatively-rigid material, such as metal, plastics, or the like, and preferably of a light-weight material, such as aluminum, or the like. Thebead members 38 and thechannel members 36 are 4 preferably extruded, or otherwise formed, of a lightweight, rigid material such as aluminum, or the like, and imperforate so as to form moisture-proof hinges.

The adjacent edges 24 are firmly supported withinlongitudinal grooves 46 provided in theextrusions 38 and are preferably sealed as by sealingstrips 47 of rubber, neoprene, or the like, provided in the bottom of thechannel 46 to prevent moisture from flowing around theedges 24.

As best seen in FIGURE 9, thevalleys 29 similarly form imperforate, sealed hinge means thereat for facilitating folding of theroof sections 22. Each valley 2? comprises an elongated socket member, which is preferably extruded or otherwise formed of a relatively rigid material, to provide a pair of spacedchannels 48 in whichbeads 49, similar to thebeads 38, but inverted, are rotatably disposed. Eachextrusion 49 is provided with agroove 51, similar to thegrooves 46, in which theadjacent edges 23 of theroof sections 22 are secured by fasteners, such asrivets 52, or the like. Sealing strips 53 are bottomed in thegrooves 51 and abutted with theedges 23 of thesections 22 to seal the edges and prevent moisture from seeping therearound.

Stop edges 54 are provided to limit the valley hinging movement of thesection 22 into its unfolded position whereas longitudinal stops 56 are provided to limit the valley hinging movement of thesections 22 into their folded position of FIGURE 14. Additionally, each valley member is preferably reinforced by alongitudinal rib 59 depending therefrom and extending throughout its entire length.

As best seen in FIGURE 7, one of the valleys, indicated at 29 in FIGURES l and 7, is secured to thehub 27. Thehub 27 includes a conicaltop member 61 forming aflange 62 overhanging the surroundingapices 26 of thesections 22 when the roof is in its unfolded condition. Thehub 27 includes acylindrical portion 63 depending from thetop member 61 and having anarm 64 extending radially therefrom. Thearm 64 is secured to the reinforcingrib 59 of thevalley member 29 as by welding, or the like, indicated at 66. A sealingsleeve 67 is preferably provided, surrounding thecylindrical portion 63, to assist in sealing the periphery of thecylindrical member 63 when the apices are arranged therearound in the unfolded position of the roof.

Theroof 21 is split at one of its valleys, indicated by the numeral 29" which is the valley opposing the valley 29' secured to the hub and joining outermost edges 23' of outermost sections 22' when unfolded and the edges are juxtaposed. Thevalley 29", as best seen in FIGURE 15, is similar in construction to thetypical valley 29 illustrated in FIGURE 9, with the exception that the reinforcingstrip 59 is virtually bisected to form a pair of abuttable half-sections 71 and 71 each having a longitudinal sealing strip of pliable, resilient material, such as rubber, neoprene, or the like, 74 sandwiched between theflanges 73. The outermost edges 23' are secured in sealed relationship tobeads 76, similar to thebeads 49, whereby theoutermost roof sections 22 are hinged in sealed relationship.

As best seen in FIGURES 15 and 16, releasable locking means, generally designated by the numeral 77, is provided to releasably lock thevalley members 71 and 71' of thevalley 29 together when theroof 21 is in its fully unfolded and erected condition.

The releasable locking means 77 comprises alug 78 extending transversely from the member 71' and secured thereto, by welding, or the like, as in anaperture 79 thereof and a reinforcingchannel member 81 secured to the member 71'. Thelug 78 is extensible as through alignedapertures 82 of theflange member 73 and a reinforcingchannel member 83 secured thereto and so as to position atransverse aperture 84 of thelug 78 beyond the outer surface of thechannel 83. Apin 86, preferably having aconical end 87, is linearly movable relative to thechannel 83 in alignedapertures 88 oftransverse webs 89 secured to the channel 03 and through thetransverse aperture 84 to lock thelug 78 against withdrawal from theapertures 82. Acable 91 is preferably secured to the pins 06, as bylugs 92 extending therefrom, to manually, or otherwise, actuate thepin 86 from a remote location, preferably close to the ground where it can be reached conveniently by an operator, to insert thepin 86 through theaperture 84 when it is aligned with theaperture 88. Conversely, the cable may be reversed to withdraw thepin 86 from thelug 78 to free the lug like 78 whereby the roof may be separated at thevalley 29" for folding thereof. A plurality of lugs like 78 may be linearly spaced on the member 71' and registrable with an equal plurality of alignedapertures 82 formed in thevalley member 71 and an equal plurality of pins like 06 provided and operable by a single cable 01 to releasably lock thevalley 29" in sealed relationship.

To fold theroof 21, the sections 22' are separated by release of the locking pins like 86 through actuation of thecable 91 whereby thesections 22 and 22' may be folded like a radially pleated fan to the position shown at 14 wherein thesections 22 and 22' are substantially parallel and in face-to-face relationship to each other.

The wall comprises a plurality ofwall sections 101 which are hingedly secured in edge-to-edge relationship so as to be foldable into substantially parallel, stacked relationship and unfoldable into the polygonal configurations referred to above. Eachsection 101 has opposingparallel edges 102 and 103 which are vertical when the wall sections are in their upright unfolded position, abottom edge 104 substantially normal thereto and an up per, inclined edge 106 disposed angularly relative thereto, whereby theedge 102 is substantially longer than theedge 103. Thewall sections 101 are juxtaposed in edgetoedge relationship with theshort edge 103 of onesection 101 being adjacent to theshort edge 103 of theadjacent section 101 and hingedly secured as by a corner hinge indicated generally by the numeral 107. The relatively longer edge 102 of one section is adjacent to theedge 102 of anadjacent section 101 and hingedly secured thereto by a panel hinge generally designated by the numeral 108.

As best seen in FIGURE 10, thecorner hinge member 107, illustrated therein in horizontal cross-section, includes an extruded, or otherwise formed rigidcentral member 109 having a pair of opposingsemi-cylindrical channel members 111, similar to thechannels 37 and 48 of theroof hinge members 28 and 29, respectively, so as to rotatably receivelongitudinal beads 112 ofextrusions 113 each supporting anend 103 ofadjacent wall sections 101. Theedges 103 are received inlongitudinal grooves 114 of theextrusion members 113 and conveniently secured thereto as by fasteners like rivets 116, or the like.

Each section like 101 is preferably made of a relatively rigid material such as the honeycombed, metal (or plastic) laminated wall section preferably of a light-weight metal, such as aluminum, or the like. Such laminated material generally comprises relatively thinouter skins 117 having sandwiched therebetween acellular layer 118 of honeycomb cross-section. Such a wall provides excellent soundproofing and insulating qualities and is relatively rigid, but is preferably reinforced as fastening points as byspacers 119 to avoid crushing the edges like 103 and all other edges thereof. Thechannels 111 preferably include a longitudinal limiting stop shoulder 121 for limiting the pivotal movement of thesection 101 into its outwardly folded position and a similarlongitudinal stop 122 engageable with the counterpart of theextrusion 113 for limiting the folded position as illustrated in FIGURE 14.

As best seen in FIGURE 11, the panel hinges 108 provide means whereby a pair ofadjacent sections 101 are limited in their unfolded position to a coplanar, substantially aligned relationship. The hinge means 108 includeshinge beads 123 rotatably disposed in longitudinal cylin- 0drical channels 124 of thelongitudinal body 126 of the hinge. Longitudinal stop shoulders 127 and 128, engage able with theshank 129 of eachbead 123, allow pivotal movement of thesections 101 from the coplanar relationship illustrated in FIGURE 11 to the parallel relationship illustrated in FIGURE 14.

When thewall 25 is unfolded,corner 131, formed by theedges 102 and the upper edges 106, are juxtaposed onadjacent sections 101 which are coplanar. The edges 106 are thereby arranged so as to diverge from thecorners 131 and conform substantially to the underside of theroof sections 22 in their angular relationship so that theroof 21 is firmly and rigidly supported. If desired, sealing strips (not shown) may be provided at the abutment of the edges 106 to the underside of thesections 22 to avoid drafts or penetration of light thereat.

It will now be more clearly understood from the foregoing description that the wall sections are hingedly secured in edge to edge relationship for unfolding into the polygonal configuration illustrated in FIGURES l, 2, 10 and 11 and for folding to the parallel relationship of FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 14 wherein thesections 101 are in face-to-face relationship.

To facilitate folding of thewall sections 101, one of the corner hinge means like 107 is longitudinally (vertically in relationship to its upright position) split into a pair ofhinge members 107a and 107b illustrated in FIG- URE 14. For convenience in manufacture, a hinge member like 107 may be longitudinally split after being being unitarily extruded to form a parting line indicated at 132 for themember 107a and at 133 for the member 10715. A sealing strip 134 is provided on one of the parting lines, such as theparting line 132, for sealing the parting line when themembers 107a and 107b are abutted as indicated by the broken lines shown in FIG- URE 14.

A releasable locking means, generally indicated by the numeral 136, provides means for releasably locking themembers 107a and 1071) together when abutted. The releasable locking means 136 includes alatch 137 pivotally secured to themember 107a as at 138 and accessible through anaperture 139 of abracket 141 secured to the member 107b, thelatch 137 having ahook 142 engageable with thebracket 141 for locking themembers 107a and 107b together. Thelatch 137 is normally biased by gravity into a substantially horizontal position engaging astop 143 and is cammed upwardly into the broken line illustration thereof by its forward cam end so as to enter theaperture 139, after which it is biased by gravity downwardly to hook thebracket 141. Thelatch 136 may be manually disengaged to release the latch.

Theroof 21 is preferably pivotally secured to thewall 25 to firmly secure the roof to the wall and cause the roof to fold when the wall is folded and also to permit further folding relationship of the roof to the wall as will be hereinafter described.

A pivotal connection is provided connecting eachvalley 29, 29 to respective corner hinges 107, 107a-107b, respectively, adjacent to acorner 151 of thewall sections 101 formed by theedges 103 and 106. Eachhinge member 150 includes a pair oflugs 152 mounted on the inner face of thehinge member 107, each lug having an aperture aligned with anaperture 153 of the reinforcingrib 59 of its associated valley hinge member like 29. Apin 154 extends through the aligned apertures of thelugs 152 andrib 59 to hingedly secure thehinge 29 to thehinge 107. At thevalley hinge member 29" which, as previously described, is parted for folding of theroof 21, an apertured lug 152' is secured to eachmember 107a and 107i) and separately pivotally secured to the dependingribs 73 by discrete pivot pins 154.

A plurality of roller means, generally indicated by the numeral 160, are provided for selectively elevating theentire structure 20 from asurface 161 upon which the structure is supported so as to facilitate folding and unfolding of the building structure. Each roller means 160 includes aroller 162 rotatably mounted on a yoke 163 secured to acylinder 164 slidably mounted in aslideway 166 secured to the outer surface of ahinge member 107. Thecylinders 164 may be actuated by pneumatic or optionally hydraulic means (not shown) to extend apiston rod 167 thereof against a fixedbracket 168 to bias thecylinder 164 and itsroller 162 away from thebracket 168. Theroller 162, being in contact with thesurface 161, causes the force of thepiston 167 to be directed upwardly on thebracket 168 and lift thebuilding structure 20 and clear thebottom edges 104 of thesections 101 from thesurface 161. Friction of theedges 104 with thesurface 161 is thereby eliminated and thesections 101 are more readily manipulated.

A plurality of second roller means, generally designated by the numeral 170, are fixed on alternatecorner hinge members 107 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Each roller means 170 includes abracket 171 secured to ahinge member 107 and aroller member 172 rotatably secured to thebrackets 171, theouter periphery 173 of theroller 172, as best seen in FIGURE 14, extending substantially outwardly and beyond the roller means 160 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Operation For the purpose of describing the operation of the instant invention, it is to be assumed that the building is primarily in the unfolded condition best seen in FIG- URES 1 and 2.

If it is desired to fold the building for storage or for transportation to another site, theentire structure 20 is initially elevated by actuation of thecylinders 164 of the roller means 160 to elevate the structure in spaced relationship to thesurface 161, as indicated by the broken lines 161' of FIGURE 2 so that the structure is supported on therollers 162. Thevalley 29 is then unlocked by withdrawing the pins like 86 of FIGURES 15 and 16 from thelugs 78 through the actuation of thecable 91. Thelatch 137 of the releasable locking means 136 is then unlatched to allow separation of thehinge members 107a-107b. As a result, thewall sections 101 may be easily separated at the parting line 132433 to initiate folding of thesections 101 circumferentially, and thereby thesections 22 of theroof 21, to the folded position of FIGURE 4, wherein thesections 22 and 101 are in face-to-face relationship. During this folding operation, the roof structure is preferably supported by a crane, or other supporting means, at points midway of theoutermost sections 22, whereby theentire wall structure 25 is supported on therollers 162. When thestructure 20 is folded in this position, theroof sections 22 and thewall sections 101 are also in substantially parallel relationship although separated.

As seen in FIGURE 5, the foldedwall 25 is subsequently pivoted upwardly into interleafed relationship of thesections 101 with thesections 22, the cross-section of which is illustrated in FIGURE 14. This final folded condition affords an over-all thickness equal to the sum of the abutting hinges 107. In the folded position of FIGURE 5, the entire structure is supported on the rollers of the roller means 170, as clearly illustrated in the figure to avoid contact of the wheel means 160 or thesections 101 with thesurface 161 so that the structure may be rolled to a place of storage or to a means for transportation for transporting the structure to a new site.

To unfold thebuilding structure 20, the reverse operation is effected whereby theroof 21 is elevated to remove thewall 22 from the section-interleafed relationship of FIGURES and 14 to the folded relationship of FIGURE 4. Thecylinders 164 are actuated to extend therollers 162 beyond theedges 104 and thewall sections 101 are circumferentially unfolded to the position of FIGURES 1 and 2 until the outermost edges of theoutermost roof sections 22 and the outermost edges of theoutermost wall sections 101 are abutted. In the abutment of the outer edges, the lugs '78 are engaged within theapertures 82 and thepins 86 are extended by thecable 91 to extend thepins 66 through the aperture 84- of thelug 78, thereby locking thevalley 29 to lock the roof in its unfolded position. The locking means 136 automatically locks thehinge members 107a and 107b together by the insertion of thehooked end 142 of thelatch 137 into theaperture 139 of thebracket 141 of the hinge member 10711. Thecylinders 164 may be actuated in reverse, or deactuated, to lower the structure on thesite 161 whereby thebuilding structure 20 is ready for immediate use.

Access doors may be provided to provide access to the interior of thebuilding structure 20. As best seen in FIGURES 2, 3 and 3a, doors in the form of slidingdoors 181 and 182 are illustrated as slideable in relationship to a pair ofcoplanar Wall sections 101. Thedoors 181 and 182 are preferably positioned so as to abut in angular relationship, as indicated at 183, and each door is slideable as on a track 184 secured to thesections 101. The tracks 184 are preferably split, as indicated at 186, to facilitate hinging of thesections 101 at theirpanel hinge members 103. Other types of doors may be provided such as swinging doors centrally located in sections like 101. Likewise windows, indicated by thebroken lines 187 in FIGURE 2, may be provided at convenient locations, if desired.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom in the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A foldable building structure comprising a roof and a wall, said wall comprising a plurality of rigid and relatively flat wall sections each having a pair of spaced edges, each extending parallel to and adjacent to the edges of an adjacent wall section, wall hinge means pivotally connecting adjacent pairs of said edges so that said wall sections may be folded into substantially parallel relationship with a wall spaced between each pair of adjacent wall sections and unfoldable into a polygonal wall structure surrounding a chamber, said roof including a plurality of rigid roof sections of substantially equal size and each section having a pair of converging edges, roof hinge means pivotally connecting each edge of each roof section to an edge of an adjacent roof section so that said roof sections may be folded into substantially parallel relationship with one another with a roof space between each pair of adjacent roof sections and unfoldable so as to form a substantially imperforate roof structure supported on said wall structure and covering said chamber, pivot means pivotally securing said wall sections to said roof sections so that all said sections may be simultaneously folded into parallel internesting relationship with adjacent pairs of roof sections extending into said wall spaces and with adjacent pairs of said wall sections extending into said roof spaces.

2. A foldable building structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said wall sections and said roof sections are equal in number.

3. A foldable building structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said wall sections when unfolded have alternate adjacent pairs of their edges extending above the other edges of said wall sections, said pivot means located at the upper ends of said alternate edges, and the edges of said roof sections and wall sections when unfolded defining a plurality of vertical planes converging radially inwardly towards the center of said chamber.

4. A foldable building structure as defined in claim 3 wherein each roof section slopes downwardly from one of said alternate adjacent pairs of edges to one of said other edges of a wall section so that troughs are formed between adjacent pairs of roof sections.

5. A building structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said roof includes a pair of adjacent roof sections separable on a common hinge line so as to define a pair of outermost roof sections including releasable locking means operatively associated with outermost sections of said roof for releasably locking together. said outermost roof sections in the unfolded, conical condition thereof and with an outermost edge of one outermost section adjacent to the outermost edge of the other.

6. A building structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said roof includes a pair of adjacent roof sections separable on a common hinge line so as to define a pair of outermost roof sections and including releasable locking means operatively associated with outermost sections of said wall for releasably locking together said outermost wall sections of said wall means in an unfolded polygonal condition thereof.

7. A building structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said roof and wall hinge means hingedly securing said roof sections and said wall sections together in edge-to-edge relationship is continuous and imperforate throughout the length of said edges and including sealing means associated therewith so as to be weather-proof.

8. A building structure as defined in claim 1, including first roller means secured to the wall; selectively extending said roller means beyond a lowermost edge of said wall means and into engagement with a surface supporting said structure for elevating said structure and supporting said structure on said roller means; and second roller means secured to said wall roller means being rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said first roller means and engageable with said surface supporting said structure for supporting said structure in its folded, interleafed condition with said wall sections rotated at approximately 90 to their roof-supporting condition.

9. A building structure as defined in claim 1, including hub means secured to one of said sections of said roof means, at the point of convergence of said roof sections and the other of said roof sections are radially arrangeable around said hub means when said roof means is unfolded, said hub means including an annular flange overlying said points of convergences of all said roof sections when said roof is unfolded.

10. A foldable building structure comprising: roof means having a plurality of relatively rigid, equally sized roof sections of triangular configuration; means hingedly securing said roof sections in edge-to-edge relationship with apices thereof adjacent to each other so as to be foldable into substantially parallel face-to-face relationship and unfoldable into a substantially conical configuration with adjacent sections in angular relationship to each other and outermost edges of outermost sections of said roof means in juxtaposition; releasable locking means for releasably locking together said outermost edges of said outermost sections of said roof means in its unfolded, conical configuration; wall means for supporting said roof means and having a plurality of relatively-rigid, relatively-fiat wall sections of equal size, each section having a pair of opposed parallel edges, a lowermost edge normal to said parallel edges and an angularly disposed uppermost edge conforming to the angular relationship of one of said roof sections when said roof means is unfolded; means hingedly securing said wall sections in edge-toedge relationship of said parallel edges for folding of said wall sections into substantially parallel, face-to-face relationship and unfolding into a polygonal configuration with said uppermost edges thereof underlying said roof means and having a nesting relationship therewith and having outermost said parallel edges of outermost wall sections in juxtaposition; second releasable locking means on said wall means for releasably locking together said outermost edges of said outermost sections of said wall means in its unfolded polygonal configuration; and means securing said roof means to said wall means for simultaneous folding and unfolding of said roof means and said wall means.

11. A building structure as defined inclaim 10, including hub means secured to said hinge means of one pair of said roof sections and adjacent to said apices thereof, the apices of said roof sections being arranged around said hub means when said roof means is unfolded; and annular flange means on said hub means and overlying said apices when said roof means is unfolded.

12. A building structure as defined inclaim 10, including means on said means hingedly securing said wall sections for positioning pairs of adjacent wall sections in coplanar relationship and adjacent pairs of coplanar sections in angular relationship, said uppermost edges of said pairs of wall sections defining an angular edge nesting with the underside of adjacent roof sections in angular relationship when said wall means is unfolded.

13. A building structure as defined in claim 12, wherein said wall means is octagon shaped in configuration when unfolded and including eight said coplanar pairs of wall sections.

14. A building structure as defined inclaim 10, including means pivotally securing said roof means to said wall means, said roof means being pivotable into its folded relationship relative to said wall means in its folded relationship so as to interleaf selected folded wall sections between selected folded roof sections.

15. A building structure as defined inclaim 10, wherein each said means hingedly securing said roof sections in edge-to-edge relationship and said wall sections together in edge-to-edge relationship is continuous and imperforate throughout the length of said edges of said sections and includes sealing means so as to be weather-proof.

16. A building structure as defined inclaim 10, including: roller means secured to said wall means; and means selectively extending said roller means beyond said lowermost edge of said wall means and into engagement with a surface supporting said structure for elevating said structure for support thereof on said roller means in response to actuation thereof.

17. A building structure as defined inclaim 10, including: first roller means secured to said wall means and means selectively extending said roller means beyond said lowermost edge of said wall means and into engagement with a surface supporting said structure for elevating said structure so as to be supported by said roller means; and second roller means secured to said wall means and engageable with said surface supporting said structure for supporting said structure in its folded, interleafed condition.

18. A building structure as defined inclaim 10, including sealing means operatively associated with said first releasable locking means for sealing said outermost edges of said outermost sections in response to actuation of said first locking means.

19. A building structure as defined inclaim 10, including sealing means operatively associated with said second locking means for sealing said outermost edges of said outermost sections of said wall means in response to actuation of said second locking means.

20. A building structure as defined inclaim 10, wherein each said means hingedly securing said roof sections in edge-to-edge relationship includes an elongated socket member having means defining a pair of spaced longitudinal channels and interposed between said edges of said roof sections, each of said roof sections includes longitudinal bead means fixed on said edges of said roof and interfitting said longitudinal sockets so as to be rotatable therein; and means limiting hinging movement of said sections relative to respective said socket members.

21. A building structure as defined inclaim 10, wherein each said means hingedly securing said wall sections in edge-to-edge relationship includes an elongated socket member having means defining a pair of spaced longi- References Cited in the file of this patent tudinal channels and interposed between said edges of UNITED STATES PATENTS said wall sections, each of said wall sections including 539 226 Lorenz y 14 1395 longitudinal bead means secured on said edges of said 2 406593 Dickelmg; Aug 1946 wall sections and interfitting saidlongitudinal channels 5 2652906 Mitchell 1953 so as to be rotatable therein; and means limiting hinging 2:728:115 Cornelius D 8c. 1955 movement of said sections relative to respective said socket 2,963,122 Jagemann 6 1960 members. 2,982,290 Hunziker May 2, 1961

Claims (1)

1. A FOLDABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE COMPRISING A ROOF AND A WALL, SAID WALL COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF RIGID AND RELATIVELY FLAT WALL SECTIONS EACH HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED EDGES, EACH EXTENDING PARALLEL TO AND ADJACENT TO THE EDGES OF AN ADJACENT WALL SECTION, WALL HINGE MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING ADJACENT PAIRS OF SAID EDGES SO THAT SAID WALL SECTIONS MAY BE FOLDED INTO SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP WITH A WALL SPACED BETWEEN EACH PAIR OF ADJACENT WALL SECTIONS AND UNFOLDABLE INTO A POLYGONAL WALL STRUCTURE SURROUNDING A CHAMBER, SAID ROOF INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF RIGID ROOF SECTIONS OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL SIZE AND EACH SECTION HAVING A PAIR OF CONVERGING EDGES, ROOF HINGE MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING EACH EDGE OF EACH ROOF SECTION TO AN EDGE OF AN ADJACENT ROOF SECTION SO THAT SAID ROOF SECTIONS MAY BE FOLDED INTO SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER WITH A ROOF SPACE BETWEEN EACH PAIR OF ADJACENT ROOF SECTIONS AND UNFOLDABLE SO AS TO FORM A SUBSTANTIALLY IMPERFORATE ROOF STRUCTURE SUPPORTED ON SAID WALL STRUCTURE AND COVERING SAID CHAMBER, PIVOT MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING SAID WALL SECTIONS TO SAID ROOF SECTIONS SO THAT ALL SAID SECTIONS MAY BE SIMULTANEOUSLY FOLDED INTO PARALLEL INTERNESTING RELATIONSHIP WITH ADJACENT PAIRS OF ROOF SECTIONS EXTENDING INTO SAID WALL SPACES AND WITH ADJACENT PAIRS OF SAID WALL SECTIONS EXTENDING INTO SAID ROOF SPACES.

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