Expandable shelter system

Abstract

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 comprising: 
 a main shelter section;    a side expandable shelter section having a flooring structure provided by a hinged flooring panel assembly consisting of at least two floor panels hinged together and operated connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;    a transport mode in which said side expandable section is substantially nested within said main shelter section; and    a deployment mode in which said side expandable section is substantially protracted from said main shelter section;    wherein said at least two floor panels can be stacked compactly in a substantially vertical direction when said side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, as to be substantially contained therewithin said transport mode; and    wherein said at least two floor panels can be unfolded and arranged in a substantially horizontal direction when said side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode.    
   
   
       2 . The single-side expandable shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein equipment can be permanently mounted on said flooring structure of said main shelter section; and said expanding side section can now have an interior volume that is substantially the same as the interior volume of the central shelter section, thereby maximizing the total utilizable volume of said single side expandable shelter system in said deployment mode.  
   
   
       3 . The single-side expandable shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein equipment can be permanently mounted to the upper half of the three walls of said expandable side section, thereby allowing for permanent interconnection of said equipment.  
   
   
       4 . The single-side expandable shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein said main shelter section having (i) a flooring structure, 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, to form a five-sided box-like container with an open side along its length dimension.  
   
   
       5 . The single-side expandable shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein said side expandable section comprises a front wall panel, a top panel, and first and second side panels, and said foldable flooring assembly, wherein said first and second flooring sections are hinged together at point and with the bottom of said front wall panel and the edge of the flooring structure of said main shelter section.  
   
   
       6 . The single-side expandable shelter system of  claim 1 , which further comprises: a side expandable section support mechanism for supporting said side expandable section during said deployment mode.  
   
   
       7 . The single-side expandable shelter system of  claim 1 , wherein said side expandable section support mechanism comprises a pair of horizontally-extending support members of telescopic-construction that are installed within the bottom exterior of said main shelter section, and a pair of diagonally-extending support members also of telescopic-construction and which are connected to the top portion of said main shelter section and the distal portion of said horizontally-extending support members.  
   
   
       8 . A single-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 said side expandable section is substantially protracted from said main shelter section, said single-side expandable shelter system comprising: 
 a flooring structure for said 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 substantially vertical direction when said side expandable section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, as to be substantially contained therewithin its transport mode.    
   
   
       9 . The single-side expandable shelter system of  claim 8 , wherein equipment can be permanently mounted on said flooring structure of said main shelter section; and said expanding side section can have an interior volume that is substantially the same as the interior volume of the central shelter section, thereby maximizing the total utilizable volume of said single side expandable shelter system in said deployment mode.  
   
   
       10 . The single-side expandable shelter system of  claim 8 , wherein equipment can be permanently mounted to the upper half of the three walls of said expandable side section, thereby allowing for permanent interconnection of said equipment.  
   
   
       11 . The single-side expandable shelter system of  claim 8 , wherein said main shelter section having (i) a flooring structure, 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, to form a five-sided box-like container with an open side along its length dimension.  
   
   
       12 . The single-side expandable shelter system of  claim 8 , wherein said single expandable section comprises a front wall panel, a top panel, and first and second side panels, and said foldable flooring assembly, wherein said first and second flooring sections are hinged together at point and with the bottom of said front wall panel and the edge of the flooring structure of said main shelter section.  
   
   
       13 . The single-side expandable shelter system of  claim 8 , which further comprises: a side expandable section support mechanism for supporting said side expandable section during said deployment mode.  
   
   
       14 . The single-side expandable shelter system of  claim 8 , wherein said side expandable section support mechanism comprises a pair of horizontally-extending expansion section support members that are installed within the bottom exterior of said main shelter section, and by a pair of diagonally-extending support members connected to the top portion of said main shelter section and the distal portion of said horizontally-extending support members.  
   
   
       15 . A double side expandable shelter system comprising: 
 a main shelter section having a main flooring structure;    a first side expandable shelter section having a first flooring structure provided by a first hinged flooring panel assembly consisting of at least two floor panels hinged together and operated connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;    a second side expandable shelter section having a second flooring structure provided by a second hinged flooring panel assembly consisting of at least two floor panels hinged together and operated connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;    a transport mode in which each said side expandable section is substantially nested within said main shelter section; and    a deployment mode in which at least one said side expandable section is substantially protracted from said main shelter section;    wherein said first hinged flooring panel assembly can be folded in a substantially vertical manner when said first side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, as to be substantially contained therewithin during said transport mode;    wherein said second hinged flooring panel assembly can be folded in a substantially vertical manner when said second side expandable shelter section can be retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, as to be substantially contained therewithin during said transport mode;    wherein said first hinged flooring panel assembly can be unfolded and arranged in a substantially horizontal direction when said first side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode; and    wherein said second hinged flooring panel assembly can be unfolded and arranged in a substantially horizontal direction when said second side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode.    
   
   
       16 . The double side expandable shelter system of  claim 15 , wherein equipment can be mounted on said flooring structure of said main shelter section; and said expanding side section can have an interior volume that is substantially the same as the interior volume of the central shelter section, thereby maximizing the total utilizable volume of said single side expandable shelter system in said deployment mode.  
   
   
       17 . The double side expandable shelter system of  claim 15 , wherein equipment can be permanently mounted to the upper half of the three walls of said expandable side section, thereby allowing for permanent interconnection of said equipment.  
   
   
       18 . The double side expandable shelter system of  claim 15 , wherein said main shelter section has (i) a replaceable full-length skid structure affixed to said main flooring structure, (ii) a top panel, a front panel with a front door having open and closed configurations, and (iii) first and second side panels  10  interconnected within a framework constructed from frame member, to form a five-sided box-like container with an open side along its length dimension.  
   
   
       19 . The double side expandable shelter system of  claim 15 , wherein said first single expandable section comprises a front wall panel, a top panel, and first and second side panels, and said foldable flooring assembly, wherein said first and second flooring sections are hinged together at point and with the bottom of said front wall panel and the edge of the flooring structure of said main shelter section.  
   
   
       20 . The double side expandable shelter system of  claim 15 , wherein said second single expandable section comprises a front wall panel, a top panel, and first and second side panels, and said foldable flooring assembly, wherein said first and second flooring sections are hinged together at point and with the bottom of said front wall panel and the edge of the flooring structure of said main shelter section.  
   
   
       21 . The double expandable shelter system of  claim 15 , which further comprises: a first support mechanism for supporting said first side expandable section during said deployment mode; and a second support mechanism for supporting said second side expandable section during said deployment mode.  
   
   
       22 . A plurality of single and/or double side expandable shelter systems of  claim 1 ,  8  and/or  claim 15  docked together to form a larger functioning unit, such as a command center, or medical hospital, for use in diverse field applications.  
   
   
       23 . A command, control and communications (C3) systems comprising said expandable shelter system of  claim 1 ,  8  or  15 .  
   
   
       24 . A medical station comprising said expandable shelter system of  claim 1 ,  8  or  15 .  
   
   
       25 . An expandable shelter system comprising: 
 a main shelter section;    a side expandable shelter section having a flooring structure provided by a hinged flooring panel assembly consisting of at least two floor panels hinged together and operated connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;    a transport mode in which said side expandable section is substantially nested within said main shelter section; and    a deployment mode in which said side expandable section is substantially protracted from said main shelter section;    wherein said at least two floor panels can be stacked compactly when said side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, as to be substantially contained therewithin said transport mode; and    wherein said at least two floor panels can be unfolded and arranged in a substantially horizontal direction when said side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode.    
   
   
       26 . The expandable shelter system of  claim 25 , wherein equipment can be permanently mounted on said flooring structure of said main shelter section; and said expanding side section can now have an interior volume that is substantially the same as the interior volume of the central shelter section, thereby maximizing the total utilizable volume of said expandable shelter system in said deployment mode.  
   
   
       27 . The expandable shelter system of  claim 25 , wherein equipment can be permanently mounted to the upper half of the three walls of said expandable side section, thereby allowing for permanent interconnection of said equipment.  
   
   
       28 . The expandable shelter system of  claim 25 , wherein said main shelter section having (i) a flooring structure, 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, to form a five-sided box-like container with an open side along its length dimension.  
   
   
       29 . The expandable shelter system of  claim 25 , wherein said side expandable section comprises a front wall panel, a top panel, and first and second side panels, and said foldable flooring assembly, wherein said first and second flooring sections are hinged together at point and with the bottom of said front wall panel and the edge of the flooring structure of said main shelter section.  
   
   
       30 . The expandable shelter system of  claim 25 , which further comprises: a side expandable section support mechanism for supporting said side expandable section during said deployment mode.  
   
   
       31 . The expandable shelter system of  claim 25 , wherein said side expandable section support mechanism comprises a pair of horizontally-extending support members that are installed within the bottom portion of said main shelter section, and a pair of diagonally-extending support members connected to the top portion of said main shelter section and the distal portion of said horizontally-extending support members.  
   
   
       32 . An 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 said side expandable section is substantially protracted from said main shelter section, said expandable shelter system comprising: 
 a flooring structure for said 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 when said side expandable section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, as to be substantially contained therewithin its transport mode.    
   
   
       33 . The expandable shelter system of  claim 32 , wherein equipment can be permanently mounted on said flooring structure of said main shelter section; and said expanding side section can have an interior volume that is substantially the same as the interior volume of the central shelter section, thereby maximizing the total utilizable volume of said expandable shelter system in said deployment mode.  
   
   
       34 . The expandable shelter system of  claim 32 , wherein equipment can be permanently mounted to the upper half of the three walls of said expandable side section, thereby allowing for permanent interconnection of said equipment.  
   
   
       35 . The expandable shelter system of  claim 32 , wherein said main shelter section having (i) a flooring structure, 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, to form a five-sided box-like container with an open side along its length dimension.  
   
   
       36 . The expandable shelter system of  claim 32 , wherein said side expandable section comprises a front wall panel, a top panel, and first and second side panels, and said foldable flooring assembly, wherein said first and second flooring sections are hinged together at point and with the bottom of said front wall panel and the edge of the flooring structure of said main shelter section.  
   
   
       37 . The expandable shelter system of  claim 32 , which further comprises: a side expandable section support mechanism for supporting said side expandable section during said deployment mode.  
   
   
       38 . The expandable shelter system of  claim 37 , wherein said side expandable section support mechanism comprises a pair of horizontally-extending support members of telescopic-construction that are installed within the bottom portion of said main shelter section, and a pair of diagonally-extending support members also of telescopic-construction and which are connected to the top portion of said main shelter section and the distal portion of said horizontally-extending support members.