Convertible enclosure

Abstract

A movable enclosure is configured to selectively enclose an area. The enclosure includes at least one side wall and an end wall attached thereto. The side wall comprises a number of individual panels that are independently movable along a track secured to the ground. The panels are selectively collapsible such that they may travel along the track and overlap one another when in a collapsed or stowed position. The enclosure may be configured in any number of intermediate positions wherein the panels are partially collapsed. Roof panels may be attached to the side walls for movement therewith, or alternatively, the roof panels may operate independent of the side walls to extend and retract between an open and collapsed configuration.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A building structure comprising:
 a fixed structural frame defining an enclosable region having a perimeter defined by a first dimension and a second dimension and including a header extending horizontally above head level along the first dimension;   a convertible roof including a plurality of roof sections that are mounted on the header of the fixed structural frame above head level and that each span the second dimension of the enclosable region, the plurality of roof sections including movable roof sections that are mounted on the header of the structural frame and movable along the first dimension relative to the header of the fixed structural frame to convert the convertible roof between an open roof configuration and a closed roof configuration, the roof sections substantially overlapping one another when the convertible roof is in the open roof configuration; and   a convertible side wall including a plurality of side wall sections that are mounted under the header of the fixed structural frame, the plurality of side wall sections including movable side wall sections that are movable relative to the header of the fixed structural frame along the first dimension independent of all the roof sections to convert the side wall between an open side wall configuration and a closed side wall configuration, a substantial portion of the side wall being open when the side wall is in the open side wall configuration.   
     
     
         3 . The building structure of  claim 2 , wherein the enclosable region includes a floor, and wherein the convertible side wall extends from the header to the floor. 
     
     
         4 . The building structure of  claim 2 , wherein the roof panels form a stack when in the open position, and wherein at least a portion of the stack is positioned outside the perimeter of the enclosable region. 
     
     
         5 . The building structure of  claim 4 , wherein the fixed structural frame defines an overhang portion positioned over a verandah region, and wherein the portion of the stack outside the perimeter of the enclosable region is supported on the overhang portion and covers the verandah region. 
     
     
         6 . The building structure of  claim 2 , wherein the fixed structural frame includes first and second headers, the first header extending horizontally above head level along the first dimension, the second header extending horizontally above head level along the second dimension, wherein the plurality of roof sections are mounted on the first header, and wherein the plurality of side wall sections are mounted under the first and second headers. 
     
     
         7 . The building structure of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the movable side wall sections includes a light transmissible component. 
     
     
         8 . The building structure of  claim 2 , wherein each of the roof sections includes a peak and first and second panel portions on opposite sides of the peak that pitch away from the peak. 
     
     
         9 . The building structure of  claim 2 , wherein the roof sections include a first set that covers a first half of the first dimension of the enclosable region and a second set that covers a second half of the first dimension of the enclosable region, wherein the first set of roof sections stack adjacent a first end of the enclosable region when the convertible roof is in the open configuration, and wherein the second set of roof sections stack adjacent a second end of the enclosable region when the convertible roof is in the open configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The building structure of  claim 2 , further comprising a roof track mounted on a top side of the header and a wall track mounted on a bottom side of the header, wherein the roof sections are mounted on the roof track, and wherein the side wall sections are hung from the side wall track. 
     
     
         11 . The building structure of  claim 2 , further comprising vertical posts that support the header. 
     
     
         12 . A building structure comprising:
 a fixed structural frame defining an enclosable region having a perimeter defined by a first dimension and a second dimension, the fixed structural frame defining an overhang portion positioned over an outside location located outside the perimeter of the enclosable region;   a convertible roof including a plurality of roof sections that are mounted above head level and that each span the second dimension, the plurality of roof sections including movable roof sections that are slidably mounted to the fixed structural frame and are movable along the first dimension, the convertible roof being convertible between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the movable roof sections being movable relative to the fixed structural frame along the first dimension to convert the convertible roof between the open configuration and the closed configuration;   the roof sections substantially overlapping one another to form a stack when the convertible roof is in the open configuration;   a majority of the stack being positioned outside the perimeter of the enclosable region and supported on the overhang portion to form a verandah outside the enclosable region when the convertible roof is in the open configuration.   
     
     
         13 . The building structure of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a convertible side wall including a plurality of side wall sections that are mounted to the fixed structural frame, the plurality of side wall sections including movable side wall sections that are movable relative to the fixed structural frame along the first dimension independent of all the roof sections to convert the side wall between an open side wall configuration and a closed side wall configuration, a substantial portion of the side wall being open when the side wall is in the open side wall configuration.   
     
     
         14 . The building structure of  claim 12 , wherein the fixed structural frame includes a header extending horizontally above head level along the first dimension, and wherein the roof sections are mounted to the header. 
     
     
         15 . The building structure of  claim 14 , further comprising a roof track mounted to the header, wherein the roof sections are mounted to the roof track. 
     
     
         16 . The building structure of  claim 15 , further comprising a side wall track mounted to the header, wherein the side wall sections are hung from the side wall track.