Removable and Transportable Modular Microhousing and Method of Using the Same

Abstract

The current invention is modular housing system which includes a docking or support structure and a plurality of removable, transferable, and customizable modular housing units. The docking/support structure provides all the basic utilities for each housing unit as well as a permanent, stationary location for accommodating each of a number of modular housing units in a dense urban environment without disrupting or altering the character of the surrounding neighborhood. Each housing unit is a self-contained living unit and includes all the basic necessities and features including a kitchen, living area, and bedroom. Each housing unit may further be vinyl wrapped so as to cosmetically match the housing units to the surrounding neighborhood or to provide any appearance desired by the owner/user.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A modular housing system comprising:
 a docking structure; and   a plurality of housing units removably coupled to the docking structure,   wherein the docking structure comprises:
 a plurality of gates; 
 a plurality of levels coupled to the plurality of gates; and 
 at least one staircase disposed in at least one of the plurality of levels, and 
   wherein each of the plurality of housing units receives a plurality of utility lines from at least one connection point disposed within the docking structure.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of gates comprises a pair of vertical supports and a horizontal member disposed between the pair of vertical supports, each of the plurality of gates further accommodating at least one unit floor portion of at least one level between the pair of vertical supports. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of levels comprises at least one floor and a plurality of decks,
 wherein the at least one access platform is adjacently disposed to the at least one staircase, and 
 wherein the plurality of decks are adjacently disposed to the at least one access platform and to the plurality of housing units. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of gates is configured to accommodate at least two of the plurality of housing units at each of the plurality of levels. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one staircase is disposed in a center portion of the docking structure. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of housing units comprises a customizable vinyl wrap removably adhered to its outside surface. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of housing units comprises:
 a bathroom; 
 a kitchen area; and 
 a convertible living-bed room area. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a foyer disposed between at least two of the plurality of housing units, the foyer coupling the two housing units together to form a single enclosed unit. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the docking structure further comprises at least one storage space disposed beneath the plurality of levels within the docking structure. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of utilities received from at least connection point disposed within the docking structure comprises:
 a water supply line; 
 a gas line; 
 a drain; and 
 an electrical line. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the docking structure further comprises an electrical closet, the electrical closet being electrically connected to an outside power line and to the plurality of housing units. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of housing units comprise a balcony disposed on a rear wall of the plurality of housing units. 
     
     
         13 . A method for providing a modular housing system comprising:
 constructing a docking structure;   removably disposing a plurality of housing units into the docking structure;   connecting a plurality of utility lines disposed within the docking structure to each of the plurality of housing units; and   matching the aesthetic appearance of the docking structure and the plurality of housing units to a surrounding environment.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein removably disposing a plurality of housing units into the docking structure comprises disposing each of the plurality of housing units into one of a plurality of corresponding housing unit spaces defined within the docking structure. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein disposing each of the plurality of housing units into one of a plurality of corresponding housing unit spaces defined within the docking structure comprises:
 disposing one of the plurality of housing units into a carrier; 
 elevating the carrier to a selected housing unit space defined within the docking structure; 
 aligning a pair of loading rails of the carrier with a corresponding pair of unit rails of the docking structure; 
 sliding the housing unit across the loading rails of the carrier and onto the unit rails of the docking structure; and 
 locking the housing unit to the docking structure. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein aligning a pair of loading rails of the carrier with a corresponding pair of unit rails of the docking structure comprises inserting a pair of inner rails disposed within the loading rails into the unit rails of the docking structure. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein connecting a plurality of utilities from the docking structure to each of the plurality of housing units comprises:
 connecting a water supply line disposed in the docking structure to at least one of the plurality of housing units; 
 connecting a gas line disposed in the docking structure to at least one of the plurality of housing units; 
 connecting a drain disposed in the docking structure to at least one of the plurality of housing units; and 
 connecting an electrical line disposed in the docking structure to at least one of the plurality of housing units, 
 wherein the water supply line, gas line, drain, and electrical line are all coupled to each housing unit through a common connection point. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein matching the aesthetic appearance of the docking structure and the plurality of housing units to a surrounding environment comprises adhering a vinyl wrap to either the docking structure or the plurality of housing units which matches the aesthetic look of the surrounding environment. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein constructing a docking structure comprises constructing a staircase between a plurality of levels disposed within the docking structure. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein constructing a docking structure comprises constructing at least one storage area beneath the lowest one of a plurality of levels disposed within the docking structure.