CONVERTIBLE CONTAINER

Abstract

A convertible shipping container includes one or more slots arranged on at least one longitudinal wall, a set of deployable panels mounted to freely slide through the plurality of slots so as to define at least one additional room adjacent to the container and an extension block coaxially arranged inside the container and mounted to freely longitudinally slide at one end of the container. The container is convertible between a first configuration, called retracted configuration, in which the set of deployable panels, as well as the movable extension block, are respectively in the retracted position and are contained in the container, and a second configuration, called deployed configuration, in which the set of deployable panels and/or the movable extension block are deployed outside the container.

Claims

1. A convertible container having a parallelepiped structure extending in a longitudinal direction and having an interior space, the container having two transverse side walls, as well as two longitudinal side walls, with at least one longitudinal side wall including at least one opening provided over a portion of its length, the transverse and longitudinal walls being respectively arranged opposite one another and each connecting a ceiling and a floor, the floor defining a floor surface area, called surface area S1, the container including: a plurality of slots arranged on at least one longitudinal side wall, the slots being configured to guide the sliding movement of deployable panels toward the outside of the container, the plurality of slots including a pair of vertical slots longitudinally opposite each other, as well as a pair of horizontal slots vertically opposite each other; a set of deployable panels arranged inside the container and mounted to freely transversely slide through the plurality of slots between a first position, called retracted position, in which the set of panels is contained inside the container, and a second position, called deployed position, in which the set is transversely deployed toward the outside of the container so as to define at least one additional room adjacent to the container, the set of deployable panels including: at least one pair of longitudinally extending horizontal panels, the pair being contained inside the container, each horizontal panel being arranged parallel, facing each other and vertically opposite each other, with a first panel, called lower panel, being arranged in the floor, and a second panel, called upper panel, being arranged in the ceiling, each of the lower and upper panels being configured to slide toward the outside of the convertible container through the horizontal slots; at least one pair of transversely extending vertical panels, the pair being contained inside the container, each vertical panel being arranged parallel, facing each other and longitudinally opposite each other, the vertical panels being configured to slide toward the outside of the convertible container through the vertical slots; an extension block coaxially arranged inside the container, the container defining a housing for the extension block, the extension block being mounted to freely longitudinally slide at one end of the container, between a first position, called retracted position, in which the movable extension block is coincident with the container, and a second position, called deployed position, in which the block projects from one end of the container; the container being convertible between a first configuration, called retracted configuration, in which the set of deployable panels, as well as the movable extension block, are respectively in the retracted position and are contained in the container, and a second configuration, called deployed configuration, in which the set of deployable panels and/or the movable extension block are deployed outside the container so as to define a floor surface area S2>S1.

2. The convertible shipping container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower panel has a section mechanically connected to the lower panel by a pivot link with a longitudinal axis.

3. The convertible shipping container as claimed in claim 1, further including an electrical installation and a reverse osmosis module and wherein the movable extension block includes a sanitary block.

4. The convertible shipping container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sanitary block of the movable extension block is mounted so as to freely longitudinally slide.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

[0068] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a forty-foot shipping container fitted out as a convertible container and in a retracted configuration according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0069] FIG. 2A is a schematic view showing the deployment of a set of deployable panels on a longitudinal side wall of the convertible container;

[0070] FIG. 2B is a schematic view showing the closing off of an additional room by pivoting a section of the lower horizontal panel;

[0071] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an extension block sliding in a deployed configuration of the container according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0072] FIG. 4 is a top view schematically showing the potential surface area S2 of the container in a deployed configuration according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0073] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the deployment kinetics of the lower and upper horizontal panels according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0074] FIG. 6 shows a kitchen panel arranged inside the container according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0075] FIG. 7 schematically shows a top view of the container with a kitchen panel arranged inside;

[0076] FIG. 8 illustrates the basic structure of a shipping container used for the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0077] The convertible container includes a main convertible container 1 whose parallelepiped structure has an interior space. The interior space is an internal space defined by a set of six walls forming the parallelepiped structure. The container 1 extends in a longitudinal direction and therefore has two transverse side walls 10, 11, as well as two longitudinal side walls 12, 13. Each of the transverse 10, 11 and longitudinal 12, 13 walls respectively connect the ceiling 14 and the floor 15 of the container 1. The floor 15 defines a floor surface area S1.

[0078] At least one longitudinal wall 13 includes at least one opening 13a arranged over at least a portion of its length so as to gain access to an additional room 40 formed when the container 1 is deployed.

[0079] The container 1 also includes a plurality of slots 20 arranged over at least one of the longitudinal side walls 12, 13. The container 1 also includes at least one set of deployable panels 30 arranged inside the convertible container 1. The panels 30 are mounted to freely slide between a retracted position and a deployed position.

[0080] The set of panels 30 is configured to complete a translation movement perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the container 1, the panels 30 thus complete a transverse movement when transitioning from the retracted position to the deployed position. The set of panels 30 is configured to slide through the slots 20, which thus act as a guide when the panels are deployed. The deployable panels 30 are contained inside the container 1 and thus slide toward the outside of the container in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the container 1. The deployment of a first set of panels 30 allows at least one first additional room 40 to be obtained adjacent to the convertible container 1.

[0081] Furthermore, the container 1 also includes a movable extension block 50. The block 50 is mounted to freely slide inside the convertible container 1, which then defines a housing for the block 50. The block 50 is mounted so as to be able to slide toward the outside of the convertible container 1 in the longitudinal direction. The block 50 is a coaxial block arranged in at least one internal portion of the container 1 and translates between a retracted position, in which the block 50 is coincident with the container 1 and arranged inside the container, and a deployed position, in which the block 50 projects from a longitudinal end of the container 1.

[0082] The container 1 thus has two configurations, with a first configuration, called retracted configuration, in which at least one set of the deployable panels 30, as well as the movable extension block 50, are contained inside the container 1, and a second configuration, called deployed configuration, in which the set 30 and/or the block 50 are deployed outside the container 1.

[0083] The deployed configuration of the convertible container 1 is thus a configuration in which the deployable panels 30 are in the deployed position and/or the movable extension block 50 is in the deployed position so as to obtain a floor surface area S2>S1.

[0084] The invention therefore allows a larger living area to be obtained when the container 1 is in the deployed configuration.

[0085] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the convertible container 1 is in a retracted configuration. In this embodiment, the transverse side wall 11 includes an entrance door 11a that can be that of a shipping container. For its part, the container 1 has two openings 13a arranged on its longitudinal side wall 13. The container 1 includes four slots 20, including two horizontal slots 20a and two vertical slots 20b. The plurality of slots 20 is arranged on the longitudinal wall 13 along the edges of the parallelepiped structure of the container 1 so that each slot 20a and 20b is respectively symmetrical and facing each other.

[0086] FIG. 2A shows the deployment of a set 30 of deployable panels toward the outside of the convertible container 1. In this embodiment, the set of panels 30 includes a pair of horizontal panels 31 and a pair of vertical panels 32. The panels 30 are contained inside the container 1 when the container is in a retracted configuration, and are slidably mounted so as to slide in a perpendicular manner, relative to the longitudinal direction of the container 1, through the plurality of slots 20.

[0087] According to one embodiment, each vertical panel 32 is respectively arranged inside the container 1 on a transverse wall 11 or 10 when the container is in the retracted configuration or when the set 30 of deployable panels is in the retracted position. The vertical panels 32 are mounted to freely slide through the vertical slots 20b.

[0088] Each horizontal panel 31 is respectively arranged inside the container 1 in the vicinity of the ceiling 14 or the floor 15 when the container is in the retracted configuration or when the set 30 of deployable panels is in the retracted position. The horizontal panels 31 are mounted to freely slide through the slots 20a.

[0089] The transition of the set of deployable panels 30 from the retracted position to the deployed position thus corresponds to the formation of an additional room 40 adjacent to the convertible container 1, an opening 13a then grants access to the room 40 when a user is inside the main container.

[0090] FIG. 2B shows the same embodiment as FIG. 2A, according to which the additional room 40 is closed off by pivoting the section 31b so as to form a transverse wall parallel to the walls 13 and 12 of the convertible container 1.

[0091] FIG. 3 uses the embodiment of FIG. 2, and illustrates the deployed position of the extension block 50. The extension block 50 is similar to an additional room entirely contained inside the main container 1 and is arranged coaxial thereto. The extension block 50 is thus slidably mounted along the longitudinal axis of the container 1.

[0092] In the deployed position, the block 50 is at least partly located outside the container 1. This block is slidably mounted in a longitudinal end of the container 1, opposite the transverse wall 11 including a door 11a. In its retracted position, the block 50 is thus coincident with the transverse wall 10 of the container 1.

[0093] According to this embodiment, the horizontal panels 31 include an upper horizontal panel 31c and a lower horizontal panel 31a. The panel 31a is mechanically connected to a longitudinal section 31b by means of a pivot link 33 with a longitudinal axis. The arrangement between the panel 31a, the section 31b and the pivot link 33 thus allows the section 31b to be pivoted so as to form a transverse wall parallel to those of the main container 1.

[0094] FIG. 4 schematically shows the potential floor surface areas of the container according to the invention when the container 1 is in the deployed configuration. In the embodiment shown, the deployed configuration of the container 1 corresponds to a state of the container where at least one additional room 40a and/or 40b has been formed by the deployment of at least one set of panels 30 and/or by the deployment of the extension block 50, which also forms an additional room.

[0095] Furthermore, provision also can be made for the room 40a to be formed by the deployment of the panels according to the embodiments shown in the preceding figures and for the additional room 40b to be formed by supplementary panels added following the deployment of the extension block 50 and the formation of the room 40a. Furthermore, each of the additional rooms 40a and/or 40b can be formed according to the deployment of a set of panels 30, as provided in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3.

[0096] The floor surface area S2 thus can be defined by the sum of the surface area S1 of the container 1 and at least the floor surface area of a room 40a, 40b or 50. Thus, the floor surface area S2 of the container is that of the container 1 in a deployed configuration in which S2 is greater than S1.

[0097] FIG. 5 illustrates the deployment kinetics of the horizontal panels 31c and 31a. According to one embodiment of the invention, the panels 31c and 31a are mounted to freely slide through respective horizontal slots 20a. According to this figure, the panels 31c and 31a initially transition from the retracted position to the deployed position by means of a first step of sliding the lower horizontal panel 31a toward the outside of the container. The panel 31a further includes the section 31b, which is superimposed and mechanically connected to the panel 31a by means of a pivot link 33 with a longitudinal axis. This figure shows a cross-section of the container 1 in which the upper panel 31c is arranged in the vicinity of the ceiling 14 and the lower panel 31a is arranged in the vicinity of the floor 15.

[0098] In a second step of the depicted deployment, the section 31b of the panel 31a pivots through an angle of approximately 90 in order to support the deployment of the panel 31c during a final step. An additional room 40 is thus closed off.

[0099] FIG. 6 illustrates an internal view of the container 1 when it is in the deployed configuration. The kitchen panel 100 is a front panel coming into abutment against the internal side of the longitudinal side wall 13 inside the container. The panel 100 is slightly smaller than the front panel 13 so as to coincide with the slots 20a and 20b. In addition, the doors 101 are designed and intended to be arranged opposite the openings 13a in the wall 13 of the container 1.

[0100] FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of the container 1 and shows the arrangement of the kitchen panel 100 inside the container.

[0101] FIG. 8 shows a forty-foot shipping container 200 that can be used to manufacture the convertible shipping container 1 according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0102] Of note, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms includes, and/or including, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0103] As well, the corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[0104] Having thus described the invention of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims as follows: