Abstract
A modular enclosure structure having at least three walls and comprised of at least three elongated posts selected from at least two elongated upright/vertical posts. Each post has a longitudinal hollow a flexible and durable compacted sheet material therein and wherein a narrow longitudinal through-slot aligned with the free end of each of the compacted sheet materials. Sheet material in each hollow is able to be externally drawn and retracted with manipulation of the free end. The free end of each sheet material has a latching member attached to either an elongated upright/vertical post member, having at least two latching members or to the two elongated posts having hollows and also cooperative latching members, wherein walls of sheet material are externally drawn from the posts with compacted sheet material to form an enclosure comprising at least three walls of sheet material.
Claims
1. A modular enclosure structure having at least three walls and comprised of at least three elongated posts selected from: a) at least two elongated upright/vertical or cross beam/horizontal posts, with each having at least one longitudinal hollow therein with each hollow having a flexible and durable compacted sheet material therein and wherein each post further comprises a narrow longitudinal through-slot aligned with the free end of each of the compacted sheet materials, whereby the sheet material in each hollow is able to be externally drawn and retracted with manipulation of the free end, with the free end of each sheet material comprising a latching member, and b) an elongated upright/vertical or cross beam/horizontal post, comprising at least two latching members which cooperatively latch with the latching member of the free end: wherein some posts having compacted sheet material therein are optionally replaced with posts having two latching members and wherein walls of sheet material are externally drawn from the posts having sheet material therein and latched to each other or to posts having two latching members to form an enclosure comprising at least three walls of sheet material.
2. The modular structure of claim 1, wherein the free end of the compacted sheet material is fastened along its longitudinal length to a longitudinally positioned elongated rail handle, having upper and lower ends, which provides structural rigidity to the free end of the sheet material and provides a handle to draw and retract the sheet material and wherein the latching member of the free end is attached to the rail handle.
3. The modular structure of claim 2, wherein each post, having compacted sheet material and each post having two latching members, are upright/vertical posts, each having upper and lower ends with coupling structures and wherein ends of an elongated horizontal post, having two ends, are coupled to upper ends of spaced apart adjacent upright/vertical posts, thereby forming an enclosing upper perimeter.
4. The modular structure of claim 3, wherein each horizontal post comprises a downwardly facing longitudinal track configured to engage the upper end of the rail handle whereby the rail handle, with attached free end of the sheet material, is laterally movable to draw and retract the sheet material to form a wall of sheet material between spaced apart adjacent upright/vertical posts with an upper edge of the sheet material of the formed wall being laterally enclosed within or adjacent to the longitudinal track.
5. The modular structure of claim 4, wherein the track contains brush material extending along a length of the track and extending across each peripheral side of the track to engage the upper edge of the sheet material.
6. The modular structure of claim 4, wherein the longitudinal track and the top of the rail handle comprise releasable engaging elements at predetermined spaced intervals, configured to stop and maintain the rail handle, with extended sheet material, in a position to provide a desired wall length.
7. The modular structure of claim 5, wherein ends of an elongated horizontal post are coupled to lower ends of spaced apart adjacent upright/vertical posts, thereby forming an enclosing lower perimeter.
8. The modular structure of claim 7, wherein each elongated horizontal post, coupled to the lower ends of the upright/vertical posts comprises an upwardly facing longitudinal track configured to engage the lower end of the rail handle whereby the rail handle, with attached free end of the sheet material, is laterally movable to draw and retract the sheet material to form a wall of sheet material between spaced apart adjacent upright/vertical posts with a lower edge of the sheet material of the formed wall being laterally enclosed within or adjacent to the upwardly facing longitudinal track.
9. The modular structure of claim 3, wherein each upright/vertical post comprises a height adjustment member whereby the upright/vertical post can be aligned to compensate for irregularities in the surface of a supporting substrate.
10. The modular structure of claim 3, wherein the compacted sheet material is comprised of at least one coil of sheet material or accordion folded sheet material and wherein the upright/vertical posts comprise through-slots for each of free ends of coiled or accordion folded sheet material.
11. The modular structure of claim 3, wherein an end of upright/vertical posts having compacted sheet material is removable and replaceable whereby contained compacted sheet material is exchangeably removable.
12. The modular structure of claim 3, wherein a door or window within a support frame having fastening elements configured to engage latching members of the free ends is latchingly positioned between rail handles to provide respective a door or window for the modular structure.
13. The modular structure of claim 7, wherein the horizontal posts comprise telescopic elements which permit for length extension thereof.
14. The modular structure of claim 3, wherein the upper horizontal posts support or are engaged with a roof structure.
15. The modular structure of claim 1, wherein the posts are configured to retain at least one of decorative or utilitarian elements.
16. The modular structure of claim 3, wherein the posts are configured to provide modules of varying sizes or multiple connected modules wherein each upright/vertical post comprises end engagement configurations for engagement with ends of four other posts.
Description
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0044] FIGS. 1A and 1B depict upright posts, each with contained rolled up wall material and handle rail (or rail handle) with wail extension to the right (FIG. 1A) and to the left (FIG. 1B) with an integral handle rail connection structure;
[0045] FIG. 2A is a schematic cross section view of an upright post with contained coiled wall material and slot for extension and retraction therethrough;
[0046] FIG. 2B is a schematic cross section view of an upright post with contained separated dual wall coils of wall and screen which can alternatively be extended outwardly;
[0047] FIG. 2C is a schematic cross section depiction of an upright post with a contained accordion fold wall material;
[0048] FIG. 3A is an upper end view of the upright post of either FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B showing an engagement connection thereof with an upper horizontal post or cross-connector post;
[0049] FIG. 3B is a view of the engagement of the upright post of FIG. 3A and the upper horizontal post with the wall handle and wall being drawn into guided extension in a rail track of the upper horizontal post;
[0050] FIGS. 4A and 4B show the lower end base of an upright post and the deployment of a screw threaded levelling knob, for levelling adjustment and post alignment on uneven supporting substrates;
[0051] FIG. 5 is a view of an upper end of an upright post depicting connection of a wall coil end to a rail handle;
[0052] FIG. 6 illustrates right angled dual wall extensions from a single upright post;
[0053] FIGS. 7A and 7B are upper and lower views of a corner upright post interlocked with right angled upper and lower horizontal posts;
[0054] FIG. 8A is a section of an upper or lower horizontal post showing telescopic length extension for wall length adjustment;
[0055] FIG. 8B show a right angled connected section of the horizontal post showing the telescopic length extension;
[0056] FIG. 9 is a top view of an upright post, without visible upper horizontal post deployment, showing right angled positioned horizontal base posts;
[0057] FIG. 10 is a cross sectioned view of an upper horizontal post relative to the handle rail showing a pin stop mechanism;
[0058] FIG. 11 is a blow-up view of components of a typical room structure using the upright wall containing posts with wall extensions, horizontal upper and lower posts, and roof and floor attachments;
[0059] FIGS. 12A-C show various roof attachments;
[0060] FIG. 13 depicts two upright posts with contained wall coils which are extended and connected to a central upright post configured to receive and connect to handle rails for extended wall lengths;
[0061] FIGS. 14A and 14B depict examples of door and window placement between upright posts;
[0062] FIGS. 15A-D schematically depict modular structures of 1, 2, 3 and 4 cubicles with vertical lines representing upright posts and horizontal lines representing horizontal or cross beam posts;
[0063] FIGS. 16A-C are representative of external channels in the posts (upright and horizontal) used as supports for decorative veneers, lighting and the like; and
[0064] FIGS. 17A and B depict the replacement and interchange of wall materials in selected upright posts (or horizontal posts, if so configured).
[0065] As a non-limiting example, in a typical simple four-sided modular structure, structural components to be utilized are four sheet-end receiving and extending elongated upright posts with a coiled flexible and durable sheet material retained on a spool retaining member contained therein. Four rod-like cross beam extension posts connect the upper ends of the elongated upright posts, and four rod-like cross beam extension posts connect the bases of the elongated upright posts. Sheet materials are extended out of openings in the elongated posts with the lateral edges of the sheet materials being engaged with the tracks of the extension posts. The sheet materials are drawn across the open area between laterally distanced elongated posts and appropriately fastened to either other sheet material ends at end connection elements or to connection elements of adjacent elongated posts, to complete the walled structure (a roof is optional). Entrance doors and/or windows are separate elements positioned with connection elements between sheet material ends or between a sheet material end and an elongated post,
DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0066] FIGS. 1A and 1B show the basic building block of the modular structure of the invention comprising upright posts 1 having an upper end 1a and a lower end 1b. In addition, the upright posts 1 have a contained coil of a fabric or similar coilable sheet material 2 (hereinafter referred to as “fabric”) as schematically shown in cross section FIG. 2A. Alternatively, the upright posts contain a foldable and stackable (accordion-like) material 3 as shown in FIG. 2C or with multiple coils such as coils 2a and 2b shown in FIG. 2B, In all the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2A-C, one end of the coiled or folded material (2c or 3a) is anchored within the upright post (to a tension rod 4 in FIGS. 2A and 2B and to a wall base 5 in FIG. 2C). The second end (2d and 3b) of the coiled and folded material terminates in an expanded element 6 (shown as a circular rod in the Figures) with the ends 2d and 3b, extending out of the upright post longitudinal slots 7 (not shown in FIG. 2C) and the expanded element 6 being engaged with co-fitting tube-like structure 6a in a handle rail 8 (more clearly seen in FIG. 5).
[0067] The handle rail 8 is grasped to extend the coiled fabric 2 or stacked fabric 3 away from the upright posts 1 to form walls 2′ or 3′ of a desired length up to the length of contained fabric material (FIGS. 13 and 14A and 14B show extending wall lengths with multiple upright posts). Tension rods 4 shown with the coiled material structures and spring-loaded foldable materials (not shown) effect retraction of the wall materials with the handle rails 8, when the modular structure is collapsed, such as for transport.
[0068] As shown, the handle rails 8 include a lock engagement structure 9, configured to be lockingly engaged with an engagement structure 9a in another upright post 1 (it is understood that the locking structure elements of the handle rail 8 and upright post 1 may be reversed).
[0069] The upper ends la of the upright posts 1 are configured to he integrally interlocked with co-fitting ends 10a of horizontal posts 10 (optionally with length variability structures such as of a telescoping nature) as shown in FIG. 3A. FIG. 3B depicts the fully seated horizontal post 10 on upright post 1, with the handle rail 8 end 8a being inserted into guiding rail or track 11. The fabric material (2 or 3) is drawn with the handle 8 along track 11. Brush elements 12 engage inner and outer upper peripheral surfaces of the fabric material to effectively screen any open area between the material and the track to thereby filter out insects, dust and the like.
[0070] The bottom lb of each upright post 1 is optionally provided with a screw-threaded levelling knob 13, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, which permits separate individual height adjustment of the upright posts 1 for extending wall alignment, to compensate for irregular surfaces of substrates on which the upright posts 1 are positioned.
[0071] FIG. 5 shows a partially extended fabric wall section (2′ or 3′) drawn out of longitudinal slot 7 of upright post 1. Expanded wall end-element 6 is shown as extending above the handle rail 8, for clarity in viewing, but is generally either flush with the upper end 8a of handle rail 8 or slightly below the upper end 8a in a configuration as in FIG. 3B, with both the upper end 8a of handle rail 8 and upper edge of fabric wall 2′ or 3′ fitting within track 11. The top of upper end 8a of handle rail 8 is provided with a spring-loaded rail pin 14, which, as shown in FIG. 10, is engageable with pin receiver 14a in the base of track 11, to provide a positive position stop for the wall extension placement. Multiple pin receivers 14a are longitudinally positioned at pre-determined intervals of track 11 to permit selective wall length placement and position locking.
[0072] FIG. 6 shows an upright post I having two contained material coils with extending walls 2′ or 3′ extending from slots positioned at right angles in the upright post 1. FIG. 2B shows walls drawn from dual coils 2a and 2b within uptight post 1, in alternate parallel directions.
[0073] FIGS. 7A and 7B show the upper end 1a of an upright post 1. being connected to the ends 10a of two upper horizontal posts 10 in a right-angle corner arrangement (FIG. 7A) and the lower end 1b of the upright post 10 being connected in a right-angle corner arrangement (FIG. 7B) with the ends 20a of two lower horizontal posts 20, with a bolt connection. The lower end 1b of the upright post 1 and the bottom surface 20b of the horizontal posts 20 are generally flush with a supporting ground or substrate surface 50 unless the lower end 1b of upright post 1 is provided with the level knobs 13, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, which results in about a half inch elevation, which can be filled in with a base floor element 40 such as shown in FIG. 11.
[0074] FIGS. 8A and 8B show an optional extendable telescopic section 23 in conjunction with the horizontal upper or lower post elements 10, 20 to provide adjustable wall lengths. FIG. 8A shows a single horizontal post element unit (10 or 20) with extension element 23 and FIG. 8B shows two horizontal post elements (10 or 20) as arranged in a right-angled connection with upright post 1.
[0075] FIG. 9 is a top view of the top of upper end 1a of upright post 1, with a right-angled connection to two horizontal base posts 20. The top 8a of rail handle 8 is shown as extending upwardly from horizontal base post 20. The rail handle 8 is in the adjacent position relative to the upright post 1 with upwardly visibly exposed tracks 11 and brush elements 12, through which the lower rail handle end 8b with fabric wall 2 or 3 is drawn. Ramp elements 13 as part of lower post 20 are shown in dotted lines.
[0076] As described above, FIG. 10 provides a cross section view of the upper end 8a of handle rail 8 and horizontal post 20 (upper (20a), as shown, but optionally similar for lower (20b) horizontal post and handle rail lower end 8b). The pin 14 and receptacle engagement for wall position retention or locking (similar to those used for telescoping elements such as canes), is shown.
[0077] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a four-sided room 100 constructed with the above-described modular components. Four identical upright posts 10, each having a coiled fabric wall material 2 contained therein are shown with the fabric being outwardly drawn through slots in the upright posts 10 and attached to successive posts 10 to form the fabric walls 2′ or 3′. Four upper and four lower horizontal posts 10 and 20 provide cross connection between the upright posts 1 and gliding tracks for the extended walls 2′ (3′) and handle rails 8. Roof attachments 10′ provide tracks for roof extension element 210 extending out from roof post 200 (having a coiled fabric or other material contained therein similar to that of the upright posts). An optional floor 40 is similarly configured (not shown) and can serve to fill in gaps between the lower horizontal post and the supporting floor or surface 50.
[0078] With the component dimensions of FIG. 11 being about 3 inches by 3 inches (with a 2.5″ inch core) by about a seven foot height, a compacted profile of the components for the construction of a 10′×10′×7′ module room is significantly less that a square foot by seven feet in length (and a weight of about 150 pounds or less) making it ideal for transport and multiple site erection. In fact, the module is ideal for use on movable platforms such as truck flatbeds, with the walls being appropriately sized. Alternatively, the upright posts may be imbedded in ground surfaces (where appropriate) with structural elimination of lower horizontal posts, with the ground providing such function.
[0079] FIGS. 12A-C show various attached, resting or draped roof members for the room structure of FIG. 11, with, for example, slanted roof 300 of FIG. 12A with an advantage or permitting sloughing off of rain or snow, if used outdoors. Louvered roof structure 301 is shown in FIGS. 12B in closed configurations. FIG. 12C shows a bamboo covered resting (unattached) roof 302, such as used for a sukkah structure.
[0080] Because of the finite length of wall material possible in upright posts with consideration of ease in handling and transport weight wall length is increasable, as shown in FIG. 13, wherein extended walls 2′ (3′) are attached such as with an upright post 1′ having dual fastening elements. If the handle rails 8 are properly configured with hermaphroditic connections they can be directly connected without an intermediate connection post.
[0081] FIGS. 14A and 14B are illustrative of various door 25 and window 35 components respectively which can be positioned between handle rail elements 8 at any desired position (using pin placement wall positioning as described above). Track element 11, not shown, in the horizontal posts, provide structural support for the doors and windows particularly if provided within separate frames 25a and 35a. As described above, if base cross beams are utilized it is advantageous to provide ramped structures to such base cross beams in at least the areas leading to the doors.
[0082] Though FIG. 11 and schematic FIG. 15A depict a single room module, it is possible to provide multiple room modules such as the 2, 3 and 4 rooms modules of schematic FIGS. 15B-D (with additional rooms being further possible). The straight lines in schematic FIGS. 15A-D represent various post and handle rail elements. In such embodiments, the upright posts 1 are selected to provide appropriate wall extensions (including dual wall call containment) and handle rail connections. In addition, the upright post ends are configured to accept horizontal post connections from four sides, as shown in
[0083] FIGS. 7A and 7B, which permits multiple continuous connections for additional cubicle modules. Modules of varying sizes may be made and conjoined by judicious arrangement of the upright posts and horizontal cross beams (and roofing on a customizable or separately supported basis).
[0084] The posts, whether upright or horizontal are provided with external channels and internal through hollows to permit the placement of decorative covers such as moldings and veneers and the drawing therethrough of various structure enhancements, such as lighting, heating, plumbing, cooling, electrical and data wiring and the like, FIGS. 16A-C are illustrative of accessory veneer 60 placement in channels 10e and 10f of horizontal post 10 (FIGS. 16A and 16B). Lighting, in the form of LED strips 70 are shown as being positioned in horizontal post 10 of FIG. 16G.
[0085] FIGS. 17A and B depict the removal and replacement of wall coils in an upright post. FIG. 17A shows post 1 as closed, with rail handle 8 attached to a coil of fabric therein. In exploded view of FIG. 17b, the end 1a of post 1 is detached from body 1c with spool tension rod 4 lifted from fabric coil 2. Fabric coil 2 is then removed from hollow 90 in post 1. Extended segment 200 and expanded wall end element 6 is lifted from slot 7 and rail handle 8 respectively. The coil 2 is removed and replaced by another coil with expanded element 6. Expand element 6 is fitted into rail handle 8, extended segment 200 (of new coil 2) is fitted into slot 7 and new coil 2 is fitted into the hollow of post body 1c. End 1a is re-attached to post 1 and a new wall is available for construction of a module. New coils may have different decorative appearance or may be of different materials to provide interchangeable features, appearance and the like for the module formed therewith,
[0086] It is understood that the above description, drawings and examples are merely illustrative of the invention and that various structural components, permutations and combinations and the like are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
