Foldale house and container assembly

Abstract

A foldable house assembly that minimizes transportation size and assembly time is provided. The assembly includes a rectangular base, a front wall, a rear wall, two side walls pivotally attached to the base, and two roof halves that are pivotally attached to the two side walls. Each of the walls and roofs has a panel and reinforcements fixed to the panel. Hinges are used between reinforcements for pivoting, and bolts and nuts are used for assembly of the walls and roofs. The panel extends over the reinforcements to provide sealing effects. In a second embodiment, the assembly is divided into a center unit, a left unit and a right unit. The wall between the center unit and the left unit, and the wall between the center unit and the right unit are omitted. The assembly may be extended by inserting center units as needed.

1 . A foldable house assembly comprising: 
 a) a rectangular base comprising first and second long edges and first and second short edges;    b) a front wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the front wall is pivotally attached on the first short edge of the base;    c) a rear wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the rear wall is pivotally attached on the second short edge of the base;    d) a first side wall pivotally attached on the first long edge of the base;    e) a first roof comprising a first edge, a second edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the first edge and the second edge, wherein the first edge is pivotally attached on the first side wall;    wherein when the foldable house assembly is in an assembled state, the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall and the first roof are pivoted upward whereby a space is confined by the base, the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, and the first roof, wherein when the foldable house assembly is in a folded state, the first roof is folded on the first side wall, and the front wall, the rear wall and the first side wall are folded on the base.    
   
   
       2 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a) a second side wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the second side wall is pivotally attached on the second long edge of the base; and    b) a second roof comprising a first edge, a second edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the first edge and the second edge, wherein the first edge is pivotally attached on the top edge of the second side wall;    wherein the second edge of the first roof and the second edge of the second roof are fixed on each other, wherein the first side wall comprises a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges connecting between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the first side wall is pivotally attached on the first long edge of the base, wherein the first edge of the first roof is pivotally attached on the top edge of the first side wall.    
   
   
       3 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 2  wherein the base comprises a front member on the first short edge, a rear member on the second short edge, a first side member on the first long edge, and a second side member on the second long edge; 
 wherein the bottom edge of the front wall is pivotally attached on top of the front member, wherein the bottom edge of the rear wall is pivotally attached on top of the rear member, wherein the bottom edge of the first side wall is pivotally attached on top of the first side member, wherein the bottom edge of the second side wall is pivotally attached on top of the second side member;    wherein the front member and the rear member have the same height, wherein the second side member is higher than the front member, wherein the first side member is higher than the second side member;    wherein the sum of heights of the front wall and the rear wall is smaller than the length of the first long edge of the base, and the heights of the first side wall and the second side wall are smaller than the length of the first short edge of the base;    whereby when the foldable house assembly is folded, the second side wall is positioned over the front wall, and the first side wall is positioned over the second side wall.    
   
   
       4 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 3  wherein when the foldable house assembly is folded, the first roof is pivoted to be positioned between the first side wall and the second side wall, and the second roof is pivoted to be positioned between the second side wall and the front wall or the rear wall.  
   
   
       5 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 4  wherein each of the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the first roof and the second roof comprises a panel and a plurality of reinforcements attached to the panel.  
   
   
       6 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 5  wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the front wall and the front member of the base; 
 wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the rear wall and the rear member of the base;    wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the first side wall and the first side member of the base;    wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the second side wall and the second side member of the base;    wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the first roof and the reinforcement of the first side wall;    wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the second roof and the reinforcement of the second side wall;    wherein for each of the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the first roof and the second roof, the panel extends over the reinforcements whereby sealing around the hinges is provided.    
   
   
       7 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 6  wherein the hinges are fixed to the reinforcements with blind rivets.  
   
   
       8 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 6  wherein the hinges are fixed to the reinforcements with bolts.  
   
   
       9 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 6  wherein when the foldable house assembly is assembled, the first roof and the second roof are inclined, and the panels of the front wall and the rear wall abut under the panels of the first roof and the second roof.  
   
   
       10 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 5  wherein when the foldable house assembly is assembled, joints between the first side wall and the front wall, between the front wall and the second side wall, between second side wall and the rear wall, and between the rear wall and the first side wall are provided by bolts and nuts that pass through holes provided in the reinforcements and in brackets fixed to the reinforcements.  
   
   
       11 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 5  wherein the panel is made of plywood, steel plate, sandwich panel or FRP plate.  
   
   
       12 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 11  wherein the reinforcements are made of C-channel steel, wherein a plurality of wood columns are fixed to the panel, wherein the reinforcements surround the wood columns and fixed to the wood columns.  
   
   
       13 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 5  wherein when the foldable house assembly is assembled, joint between the first roof and the second roof is provided by bolts and nuts that pass through holes provided in the reinforcements.  
   
   
       14 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 13  wherein one or more tension wires are provided between and fixed to the reinforcements of the first roof and the second roof.  
   
   
       15 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 14  wherein an inverted V shaped cover is positioned over and fixed to the second edges of the first roof and the second roof.  
   
   
       16 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a left unit and a right unit, wherein the base, the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, and the first roof forms a center unit, wherein the first side wall has two columns, each of which has an upper end and a lower end, wherein the first edge of the first roof is pivotally attached on the upper ends of the columns, wherein the lower ends of the columns are pivotally attached on the first long edge of the base; 
 wherein the left unit comprises:    a) a rectangular base comprising first and second long edges and first and second short edges;    b) a front wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the front wall is pivotally attached on the first short edge of the base;    c) a rear wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the rear wall is pivotally attached on the second short edge of the base;    d) a left wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge is pivotally attached on the first long edge of the base; and    e) a left roof comprising a first edge, a second edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the first edge and the second edge, wherein the first edge is pivotally attached on the top edge of the left wall;    wherein the right unit comprises:    a) a rectangular base comprising first and second long edges and first and second short edges;    b) a front wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the front wall is pivotally attached on the first short edge of the base;    c) a rear wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the rear wall is pivotally attached on the second short edge of the base;    d) a right wall comprising a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge is pivotally attached on the first long edge of the base; and    e) a right roof comprising a first edge, a second edge and two side edges, wherein the two side edges connect between the first edge and the second edge, wherein the first edge is pivotally attached on the top edge of the right wall;    wherein when the foldable house is assembled, the second edge of the left roof is attached to the first edge of the first roof of the center unit; and the second edge of the right roof is attached to the second edge of the first roof of the center unit.    
   
   
       17 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 16  further comprising one or more center units between the center unit and the left unit, or between the center unit and the right unit.  
   
   
       18 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 16  wherein for the center unit: 
 the base comprises a front member on the first short edge, a rear member on the second short edge, a first side member on the first long edge, and a second side member on the second long edge; wherein the bottom edge of the front wall is pivotally attached on top of the front member, wherein the bottom edge of the rear wall is pivotally attached on top of the rear member, wherein the lower ends of the columns are pivotally attached on top of the first side member, wherein the front member and the rear member have the same height, wherein the first side member is higher than the front member;    wherein the sum of heights of the front wall and the rear wall is smaller than the length of the first long edge of the base;    whereby when the center unit is folded, the first side wall is positioned over the front wall and the rear wall, and the first roof is pivoted to be positioned between the first side wall and the front wall or the rear wall;    wherein for the left unit:    the base comprises a front member on the first short edge, a rear member on the second short edge, a first side member on the first long edge, and a second side member on the second long edge; wherein the bottom edge of the front wall is pivotally attached on top of the front member, wherein the bottom edge of the rear wall is pivotally attached on top of the rear member, wherein the bottom edge of the left wall is pivotally attached on top of the first side member, wherein the front member and the rear member have the same height, wherein the first side member is higher than the front member;    wherein the sum of heights of the front wall and the rear wall is smaller than the length of the first long edge of the base;    whereby when the left unit is folded, the left wall is positioned over the front wall and the rear wall, and the left roof is pivoted to be positioned between the left wall and the front wall or the rear wall;    wherein for the right unit:    the base comprises a front member on the first short edge, a rear member on the second short edge, a first side member on the first long edge, and a second side member on the second long edge; wherein the bottom edge of the front wall is pivotally attached on top of the front member, wherein the bottom edge of the rear wall is pivotally attached on top of the rear member, wherein the bottom edge of the right wall is pivotally attached on top of the first side member, wherein the front member and the rear member have the same height, wherein the first side member is higher than the front member;    wherein the sum of heights of the front wall and the rear wall is smaller than the length of the first long edge of the base;    whereby when the right unit is folded, the right wall is positioned over the front wall and the rear wall, and the right roof is pivoted to be positioned between the right wall and the front wall or the rear wall;    wherein when the foldable house assembly is assembled, the first side member of the center unit abuts on the second side member of the left unit, and the second side member of the center unit member abuts on the second side member of the right unit.    
   
   
       19 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 16  wherein for the center unit, each of the front wall, the rear wall, and the first roof comprises a panel and a plurality of reinforcements attached to the panel; 
 wherein for the left unit, each of the front wall, the rear wall, the left wall and the left roof comprises a panel and a plurality of reinforcements attached to the panel;    wherein for the right unit, each of the front wall, the rear wall, the right wall and the right roof comprises a panel and a plurality of reinforcements attached to the panel.    
   
   
       20 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 19  wherein for the center unit: 
 one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the front wall and the front member of the base;    wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the rear wall and the rear member of the base;    wherein one or more hinges are provided between the lower ends of the columns of the first side wall and the first side member of the base;    wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the first roof and the upper ends of the columns of the first side wall;    wherein for each of the front wall and the rear wall, the panel extends over the reinforcements whereby sealing around the hinges is provided;    wherein for the left unit:    one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the front wall and the front member of the base;    wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the rear wall and the rear member of the base;    wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the left wall and the first side member of the base;    wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the left roof and the reinforcement of the left wall;    wherein for each of the front wall, the rear wall, the left wall, and the left roof, the panel extends over the reinforcements whereby sealing around the hinges is provided;    wherein for the right unit:    one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the front wall and the front member of the base;    wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the rear wall and the rear member of the base;    wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the right wall and the first side member of the base;    wherein one or more hinges are provided between the reinforcement of the right roof and the reinforcement of the right wall;    wherein for each of the front wall, the rear wall, the right wall, and the right roof, the panel extends over the reinforcements whereby sealing around the hinges is provided.    
   
   
       21 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 20  wherein the hinges are fixed to the reinforcements with blind rivets.  
   
   
       22 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 20  wherein the hinges are fixed to the reinforcements with bolts.  
   
   
       23 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 20  wherein for the center unit, when the foldable house assembly is assembled, the panels of the front wall and the rear wall abut under the panel of the first roof; 
 wherein for the left unit, when the foldable house assembly is assembled, the panels of the front wall and the rear wall abut under the panel of the left roof;    wherein for the right unit, when the foldable house assembly is assembled, the panels of the front wall and the rear wall abut under the panel of the right roof.    
   
   
       24 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 19  wherein for the left unit, when the foldable house assembly is assembled, joints between the left wall and the front wall and between the rear wall and the left wall are provided by bolts and nuts that pass through holes provided in the reinforcements and in brackets fixed to the reinforcements; 
 wherein for the right unit, when the foldable house assembly is assembled, joints between the right wall and the front wall and between the rear wall and the right wall are provided by bolts and nuts that pass through holes provided in the reinforcements and in brackets fixed to the reinforcements.    
   
   
       25 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 19  wherein the panel is made of plywood, steel plate, sandwich panel or FRP plate.  
   
   
       26 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 25  wherein the reinforcements are made of C-channel steel, wherein a plurality of wood columns are fixed to the panel, wherein the reinforcements surround the wood columns and fixed to the wood columns.  
   
   
       27 . The foldable house assembly of  claim 19  wherein when the foldable house assembly is assembled, joint between the first roof of the center unit and the left roof of the left unit, and the first roof of the center unit and the right roof of the right unit are provided by bolts and nuts that pass through holes provided in the reinforcements.