Compact modular housing unit

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a compact modular housing unit ( 1 ) for housing a user ( 8 ). The modular housing unit ( 1 ) comprises a box-shaped structure ( 2 ), which encloses an inner chamber ( 20 ), and a bed or the like ( 3 ), which is positioned in the inner chamber ( 20 ). The box-shaped structure ( 2 ) has an access opening ( 26 ) to the inner chamber ( 20 ). The bed ( 3 ) is mounted on guides ( 4 ) and is adapted to perform a translational movement with respect to the box-shaped structure ( 2 ) along said guides ( 4 ): the bed ( 3 ) is movable between a first position, in which the bed ( 3 ) is completely inside the inner chamber ( 20 ), and a second position, in which the bed ( 3 ) protrudes at least partially from the inner chamber ( 20 ) through said access opening ( 26 ). The modular housing unit ( 1 ) is configured to allow a user ( 8 ) to lie in the bed ( 3 ) when the bed ( 3 ) is in the first position inside the inner chamber ( 20 ). The movability of the bed ( 3 ) between the first position and the second position, and vice versa, allows the user ( 8 ) to exit from/enter the inner chamber ( 20 ) while remaining lying in the bed ( 3 ). In particular, the translational movement of the bed ( 3 ) is along a translational axis which is parallel to a longitudinal axis ( 300 ) of the bed, corresponding to a head-feet direction of the user ( 8 ). According to an embodiment, the modular housing unit ( 1 ) is further configured to float on water ( 97 ): at least a bottom region ( 207 ) of the box-shaped structure ( 2 ) is watertight and the modular housing unit ( 1 ) in the floating condition is a survival cell for the user ( 8 ) when in a condition of danger due to a surrounding water environment.

1 . A modular housing unit for housing a user, the modular housing unit comprising:
 a box-shaped structure which encloses an inner chamber, the box-shaped structure having at least one access opening to the inner chamber; and   a bed or the like positioned in the inner chamber, wherein the bed or the like is mounted on guides connected to the box-shaped structure and is adapted to perform a translational movement with respect to the box-shaped structure along said guides;   the bed or the like being movable between a first position, in which the bed or the like is completely inside the inner chamber, and a second position, in which the bed or the like protrudes at least partially from the inner chamber through said at least one access opening,   the modular housing unit being configured to allow a user to lie in the bed or the like when the bed or the like is in the first position inside the inner chamber,   the movability of the bed or the like between the first position and the second position, and vice versa, allowing the user to exit from/enter the inner chamber while remaining lying in the bed or the like,   the bed or the like having a longitudinal axis corresponding to a head-feet direction of the user, said translational movement being along a translational axis which is parallel to said longitudinal axis of the bed or the like.   
     
     
         2 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the bed or the like has a trunk region, a thigh region and a shin or foot region, each of these regions being intended to support a corresponding part of the body of the user, the shin or foot region being closer to said at least one access opening than the trunk region when the bed or the like is in the first position inside the inner chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 2 , wherein, when the bed or the like is in the second position, said thigh region and said shin or foot region are outside the inner chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the box-shaped structure has a first access opening and a second access opening, the second access opening being on an opposite side of the inner chamber with respect to the first access opening, the bed or the like in the second position protruding at least partially from the inner chamber through the first access opening, the bed or the like being further movable between the first position and a third position in which the bed or the like protrudes at least partially from the inner chamber through the second access opening, the first position being situated between the second position and the third position. 
     
     
         5 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the bed or the like has an articulated frame, the articulated frame comprising at least a first frame section and a second frame section, the first frame section being angularly displaceable with respect to the second frame section. 
     
     
         6 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 5 , wherein said articulated frame comprises a shin section and a thigh section, the shin section being angularly displaceable with respect to the thigh section between a condition aligned with the thigh section and a lowered condition which allows a user on the bed or the like to bend the knees and lower the shins and the feet. 
     
     
         7 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 6 , wherein said shin section comprises two sub-sections hinged together, said two sub-sections being configured to hingeably close up when the shin section is in the lowered condition. 
     
     
         8 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 6 , wherein the inner chamber comprises a seating or recess for receiving the shin section in the lowered condition when the bed or the like is in the first position, said seating or recess being adapted to receive also the shins and the feet of the user. 
     
     
         9 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 5 , wherein said articulated frame comprises a backrest section and a thigh section, the backrest section being angularly displaceable with respect to the thigh section between a condition aligned with the thigh section and a raised condition in which the backrest section is adapted to support the back of a user sitting on the bed or the like. 
     
     
         10 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the bed or the like is mounted on said guides via a first slide and a second slide, the first slide being slidably mounted on said guides, the second slide being slidably mounted on the first slide and supporting the bed or the like. 
     
     
         11 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 1 , comprising at least one handrail positioned in said inner chamber and fixed to the box-shaped structure, said at least one handrail being substantially parallel to said guides and being able to be gripped by a user lying on the bed or the like. 
     
     
         12 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the modular housing unit comprises a supporting base for resting the housing unit on a ground or a similar installation surface during a condition of normal use for housing a user,
 the modular housing unit being further configured to float in water, at least a bottom region of the box-shaped structure being watertight, the modular housing unit in a floating condition being a survival cell for the user in a danger condition due to a surrounding water environment.   
     
     
         13 . A modular housing unit for housing a user, comprising:
 a box-shaped structure which encloses an inner chamber;   a bed or the like positioned in the inner chamber; and   a supporting base for resting the housing unit on a ground or a similar installation surface during a condition of normal use for housing a user,   the modular housing unit being further configured to float in water, at least a bottom region of the box-shaped structure being watertight, the modular housing unit in a floating condition being a survival cell for the user in a danger condition due to a surrounding water environment,   wherein the supporting base comprises at least one movable member which is movable between a first condition, in which said at least one movable member forms a supporting base for the modular housing unit, and a second condition, in which said at least one movable member extends downwards from the bottom of the box-shaped structure,   said at least one movable member being able to assume said second condition when the modular housing unit is floating in water, said at least one movable member in the second condition forming a fin which extends underneath the box-shaped structure to counteract overturning of the modular housing unit in the floating condition.   
     
     
         14 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 13 , the supporting base comprising a first movable member and a second movable member which are symmetrically positioned, wherein said first movable member and second movable member in the first condition form support feet which extend from opposite sides, and wherein said first movable member and second movable member in the second condition are in contact with each other to form said fin. 
     
     
         15 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 13 , wherein said at least one movable member is pivoted to the box-shaped structure along a longitudinal pivoting axis, the movement between the first condition and the second condition, and vice versa, being a rotation about said longitudinal pivoting axis. 
     
     
         16 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 14 , wherein the first movable member and the second movable member are pivoted to the box-shaped structure along a same longitudinal pivoting axis, the movement between the first condition and the second condition, and vice versa, being a rotation around said longitudinal pivoting axis. 
     
     
         17 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 13 , wherein said at least one movable member is connected to the box-shaped structure via at least one articulated arm. 
     
     
         18 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 13 , further comprising at least one floating element having a density less than the density of water, said at least one floating element being hinged with a respective movable member along a longitudinal hinge axis, so that said at least one floating element is alongside the respective movable member when the respective movable member is in the first condition, and so that said at least one floating element is above the respective movable member and is positioned between the respective movable member and the box-shaped structure when the respective movable member is in the second condition. 
     
     
         19 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 18 , wherein said at least one floating element is configured to stabilize the position of said fin when the respective movable member is in the second condition, said at least one floating element being positioned between the respective movable member and the box-shaped structure so as to prevent the respective movable member from returning into the first condition. 
     
     
         20 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the modular housing unit is configured to have a center of gravity in such a location that it is below the surface of the water when the modular housing unit is floating in water. 
     
     
         21 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 20 , wherein said supporting base is positioned underneath the box-shaped structure and has a density greater than the density of water, the position and the overall weight of the supporting base being configured to determine a location of the center of gravity of the modular housing unit, the center of gravity being located below the surface of the water when the modular housing unit is floating in water. 
     
     
         22 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 13 , comprising inflatable members or rings arranged on the outside of the box-shaped structure, said inflatable members or rings being adapted to be inflated by a gas so as to increase the floating capacity of the modular housing unit in water. 
     
     
         23 . The modular housing unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the box-shaped structure has at least one access opening to the inner chamber,
 the bed or the like being mounted on guides connected to the box-shaped structure and being adapted to perform a translational movement with respect to the box-shaped structure along said guides,   the bed or the like being movable between a first position, in which the bed or the like is completely inside the inner chamber, and a second position, in which the bed or the like protrudes at least partially from the inner chamber through said at least one access opening,   the modular housing unit being configured to allow a user to lie in the bed or the like when the bed or the like is in the first position inside the inner chamber,   the movability of the bed or the like between the first position and the second position, and vice versa, allowing the user to exit from/enter the inner chamber while remaining lying in the bed or the like.   
     
     
         24 . (canceled)