Foldout porch structure

Abstract

A foldout porch structure, for mounting on a building, includes a base platform and a roof. The base platform, when mounted on the building, pivots near a bottom of a side of the building between a stowed position, along the side of the building, and an extended position, outward from the side of the building. The roof, when mounted on the building, pivots near a top of the side of the building between a stowed position, along the side of the building, and an extended position, outward from the side of the building.

1 . A foldout porch structure, for mounting on a building, comprising:
 a base platform that, when mounted on the building, pivots near a bottom of a side of the building between a stowed position, along the side of the building, and an extended position, outward from the side of the building; and   a roof that, when mounted on the building, pivots near a top of the side of the building between a stowed position, along the side of the building, and an extended position, outward from the side of the building.   
   
   
       2 . The foldout porch structure of  claim 1 , wherein:
 when the base platform and the roof are in their respective stowed positions, the roof is situated between the side of the building and the base platform.   
   
   
       3 . The foldout porch structure of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base platform and the roof are situated relative to each other in a manner that, after a person pivots the base platform to its extended position, the person may stand on the base platform while pivoting the roof to its extended position.   
   
   
       4 . The foldout porch structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mounting block attached to the base platform and which, when mounted on the building, extends a pivot point of the base platform out from the side of the building.   
   
   
       5 . The foldout porch structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pivoting rail section attached to the roof and that pivots down from the roof.   
   
   
       6 . The foldout porch structure of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the pivoting rail section includes a support that holds the roof in its extended position.   
   
   
       7 . The foldout porch structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one removable rail section attached along at least a portion of a perimeter of the base platform.   
   
   
       8 . A method of manipulating a foldout porch structure mounted on a building, comprising:
 pivoting a base platform from a stowed position along a side of the building to an extended position at which a person can stand on the base platform; and   pivoting a roof from a stowed position along the side of the building to an extended position covering at least a portion of the base platform.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 when the base platform and the roof are in their respective stowed positions, the roof is situated between the base platform and the side of the building.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 when the base platform is at its extended position, the person can stand on the base platform to pivot the roof to its extended position.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 pivoting at least one rail section into a position between the base platform and the roof.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the rail section includes a support pole; and   the method further comprises supporting the roof above the base platform with the support pole.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 attaching at least one rail section along at least a portion of a perimeter of the base platform.   
   
   
       14 . A foldout porch structure, for mounting on a building, comprising:
 a means for standing on by a person;   a means for covering at least a portion of the standing-on means;   a means, mountable on the building, for pivoting the standing-on means between a stowed position along a side of the building and a position at which it can be stood upon by the person; and   a means, mountable on the building, for pivoting the covering means between a stowed position along the side of the building and a position at which it covers at least a portion of the standing-on means.   
   
   
       15 . The foldout porch structure of  claim 14 , wherein:
 when the standing-on means and the covering means are in their respective stowed positions, the covering means is situated between the standing-on means and the side of the building.   
   
   
       16 . The foldout porch structure of  claim 14 , wherein:
 when the standing-on means is in the position at which it can be stood upon by the person, the person can stand on the standing-on means while pivoting the covering means to its position at which it covers at least a portion of the standing-on means.   
   
   
       17 . The foldout porch structure of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the means for pivoting the standing-on means, when mounted on the building, extends a pivot point of the standing-on means out from the side of the building.   
   
   
       18 . The foldout porch structure of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a means for fencing in at least a portion of the standing-on means; and   a means for pivoting the fencing-in means to a position between the standing-on means and the covering means.   
   
   
       19 . The foldout porch structure of  claim 18 , wherein:
 fencing-in means includes a means for supporting the covering means above the standing-on means.   
   
   
       20 . The foldout porch structure of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a means for fencing in at least a portion of the standing-on means, the fencing-in means being attachable to and detachable from a position along a portion of a perimeter of the standing-on means.