Portable multi-room structure

Abstract

A multi-room structure includes a plurality of separate cabins or rooms, each of which can be accessed by an external door. The size of the multi-room structure is such that a standard tractor trailer suitable for hauling a standard shipping container can readily move the multi-room structure to a needed location, such as a disaster, to alleviate homelessness, or to house immigrants or migrants. The standard size of the multi-room structure is such that parts for standard shipping containers can provide the structural elements needed for the multi-room structure, reducing production costs.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A multi-room structure, comprising:
 a container including a plurality of external walls, the container sized and dimensioned to be carried by a semi-tractor and trailer without requiring an over-size permit;   a plurality of internal rooms formed by a longitudinally extending internal wall, a plurality of transversely extending internal walls, a plurality of floors, and a ceiling, the plurality of internal rooms including a plurality of upper rooms and a plurality of lower rooms, the longitudinally and transversely extending internal walls formed of a material having a high structural mechanical resistance configured to support the plurality of internal rooms and their occupants; and   a plurality of external doors positioned on at least one of the plurality of external walls, each of the plurality of external doors provides access only to a respective one of the plurality of internal rooms, the plurality of internal rooms being sealed by the plurality of internal walls, ceiling, floors, and the plurality of external doors to provide resistance to the environment external to the container.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-room structure of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of external doors is a plurality of upper external doors and a plurality of lower external doors, and the plurality of upper doors and lower doors are offset from each other in a longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-room structure of  claim 1 , including a ladder positioned to extend to only one upper external door of the plurality of upper external doors for each respective upper room of the plurality of upper rooms. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-room structure of  claim 1 , wherein the number of upper rooms is at least two upper rooms. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-room structure of  claim 1 , wherein the number of lower rooms is at least two lower rooms. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-room structure of  claim 1 , wherein the number of upper rooms is at least two and a maximum of twelve rooms. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-room structure of  claim 1 , wherein the number of lower rooms is at least two and a maximum of twelve rooms. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-room structure of  claim 1 , wherein a long dimension of at least one room of the plurality of rooms extends in a longitudinal direction of the container, and a long dimension of at least one room of the plurality of rooms extends in a transverse direction of the container. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-room structure of  claim 1 , including a bathroom positioned in place of at least one upper room of the plurality of upper rooms and at least one lower room of the plurality of lower rooms. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-room structure of  claim 1 , including a roof protection attached to and extending from the container. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-room structure of  claim 1 , including a terrace attached to and extending from the container. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-room structure of  claim 1 , wherein each room of the plurality of rooms includes an air conditioner or fan connected to a vent positioned on an external surface of the container. 
     
     
         13 . A multi-room structure, comprising:
 a container including a plurality of external walls, the container sized and dimensioned to be carried by a semi-tractor and trailer without requiring an over-size permit;   a plurality of internal rooms including a plurality of upper rooms and a plurality of lower rooms formed by a plurality of walls, the plurality of walls formed of a material having a high structural mechanical resistance configured to support the plurality of internal rooms and their occupants; and   a plurality of external doors, each of the plurality of external doors positioned on one of the plurality of external walls, each of the plurality of internal rooms corresponding to a maximum of two of the plurality of external doors.   
     
     
         14 . The multi-room structure of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of external walls is four, and the plurality of doors are positioned on a maximum of three walls of the plurality of external walls. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-room structure of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of internal rooms includes a plurality of rooms having a long dimension extending in a longitudinal direction of the container and a plurality of rooms having a long dimension extending in a transverse direction of the container. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-room structure of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of rooms is connected to an exterior of the container by a vent positioned on one of the plurality of external walls. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-room structure of  claim 16 , wherein each room of the plurality of rooms includes an air conditioner or fan connected to the vent. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-room structure of  claim 13 , including a plurality of ladders positioned on the external walls, each of the plurality of ladders extending to a respective one of the plurality of upper rooms. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-room structure of  claim 13 , including a bathroom in place of at least one lower room and one upper room that extends directly above the at least one lower room. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-room structure of  claim 13 , wherein the number of upper rooms is at least two and a maximum of twelve, and the number of lower rooms is at least two and a maximum of twelve.