초록 ▼

A hard side shelter is convertible between transport and deployed modes. When in the transport mode, the shelter has an envelope identical to an ISO-cargo container. A side section floor and cover are each connected to the center section for rotating between being coplanar with the center section fl

A hard side shelter is convertible between transport and deployed modes. When in the transport mode, the shelter has an envelope identical to an ISO-cargo container. A side section floor and cover are each connected to the center section for rotating between being coplanar with the center section floor and roof when in the deployed mode, and being vertical and lying in a center section side planes when in a transport mode. Each side section has end and middle panels that are turnable relative to each other, and a door assembly that is turnable relative to the middle panels. Locking bars engaged the center section floor when the shelter is in a transport mode, and engage the side section floors when the shelter is in the deployed mode. The shelter is handleable by pallet handling systems and includes insulation panels to enhance the heat transfer characteristics of the shelter.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of sheltering persons and equipment comprising the steps of: a. providing a center section having a front end and an open back end that define respective vertical front and back end planes, and opposed first and second sides that define respective first and second vertical side planes, a

1. A method of sheltering persons and equipment comprising the steps of: a. providing a center section having a front end and an open back end that define respective vertical front and back end planes, and opposed first and second sides that define respective first and second vertical side planes, and having a rigid floor, corner posts, and a rigid roof;b. folding first and second side sections to lie generally within the center section first and second side planes, respectively, to close the center sections first and second sides and cooperate with the center section floor, roof, and ends to make a shelter that is in a transport mode; andc. unfolding the first and second side sections to be substantially outside of the center section first and second side planes, respectively, and cooperate with the center section to convert the shelter into a deployed mode, wherein the step of folding the first and second side sections comprises the steps of: i) rotating first and second rigid side section floors to be parallel to and proximate the first and second center section side planes, respectively;ii) turning multiple first and second side section panels to be alongside the first and second side section floors and generally within the first and second center section side planes, respectively, and closing the center section first and second sides; andiii) locking the first and second side section panels to the center section floor and thereby placing the shelter in the transport mode, wherein the step of unfolding the first and second side sections comprises the steps of: a) unlocking the first and second side section panels from the center section floor;b) turning the first and second side section panels to be substantially outside of the center section first and second side planes, respectively;c) rotating the first and second side section floors to be generally coplanar with the center section floor; andd) locking the first and second side section panels to the respective first and second side section floors and thereby converting the shelter into the deployed mode, and wherein the step of turning the first and second side section panels comprises the steps of: a. turnably mounting first and second end panels of each side section to the front and back ends of the center section along a vertical axis;b. turnably mounting first and second middle panels of each side section to a respective first and second end panel along a vertical axis; andc. turnably mounting a door assembly to the first and second middle panels of each side section along a vertical axis. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a center section comprises the step of providing a door on the center section back end. 3. The method of claim 1 comprising the further steps of: a. hinging a top door to the center section back end proximate the roof thereof; andb. hinging a bottom door to the center section back end proximate the floor thereof. 4. The method of claim 3 comprising the further step of fixing rails to the center section floor and to the bottom door. 5. The method of claim 3 comprising the further steps of: a. providing a bar on the center section front end; andb. providing a pair of channels under the center section floor and thereby enabling the shelter to be handled by a pallet handling system. 6. The method of claim 3 comprising the further steps of: a. hinging a pair of outer doors on selected center section corner posts;b. pivoting the bottom and top doors to be generally parallel to the center section floor, and pivoting the outer doors to be generally parallel to the first and second center section side planes and thereby enabling entrance into the center section through the back end thereof; andc. pivoting the top, bottom, and outer doors each to lie generally in the center section back end plane and thereby preventing entrance into the center section through the back end thereof. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of unfolding the first and second side sections comprises the steps of: a. turning the first and second end panels of each side section to be substantially parallel to the center section front and back ends, and turning the first and second middle panels and the door assembly of each side section to be substantially perpendicular to the end panels;b. rotating the first and second side section floors to be generally coplanar with the center section floor; andc. locking the end panels, middle panels, and door assembly of each side section to the respective side section floor. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of turnably mounting a door assembly comprises the steps of: a. turnably mounting a first door frame to the first middle panel; andb. turnably mounting a second door frame to the second middle panel. 9. The method of claim 8 comprising the further step of attaching the first and second door frames to each other. 10. The method of claim 9 comprising the further steps of: a. unlocking the end panels, middle panels, and door assemblies of each side section from the associated side section floor;b. detaching the first and second door frames from each other;c. rotating the first and second side section floors to lie generally in the center section first and second side planes, respectively;d. turning the first and second end panels the first and second middle panels, and the door assembly of each side section to lie generally in the center section first and second side planes; ande. locking the first and second end panels, first and second middle panels, and door assemblies of each side section to the center section floor and thereby converting the shelter back to the transport mode. 11. The method of claim 8 comprising the further step of providing at least one side door in the first door frame. 12. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of locking the end panels, middle panels, and door assembly comprises the steps of: a. providing each end panel, middle panel, and door assembly with a locking bar; andb. engaging each locking bar with the associated side section floor. 13. The method of claim 7 comprising the further steps of: a. unlocking the end panels, middle panels, and door assemblies of each side section from the associated side section floor;b. rotating the first and second side section floors to lie generally in the center section first and second side planes, respectively;c. turning the first and second end panels the first and second middle panels, and the door assembly of each side section to lie generally in the center section first and second side planes; andd. locking the first and second end panels, first and second middle panels, and door assemblies of each side section to the center section floor and thereby converting the shelter back to the transport mode. 14. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of extending a cover from the center section roof to each of the side section panels when the shelter is in the deployed mode. 15. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of installing selected tire repair equipment in the center section. 16. The method of claim 1 comprising the further steps of: a. installing selected tire repair equipment in the center section; andb. relocating the tire equipment within the center section and side sections when the shelter is in the deployed mode. 17. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a center section comprises the step of providing a center section that is approximately 19 feet 10½ inches long, eight feet wide, and eight feet high. 18. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of unfolding the first and second side sections comprises the step of unfolding the first and second side sections to a width of approximately 19 feet eight inches for the shelter in the deployed mode. 19. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of sealing joints between the end panels and the middle panels, and between the end panels and the center section. 20. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of rotating the first and second rigid side section floors comprises the steps of: a. receiving at least one winch in a selected center section corner post;b. hooking a cable from the at least one winch to a selected one of the first and second side section floors; andc. operating the winch and cable and assisting rotating the selected side section floor. 21. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of rotating first and second rigid side section floors comprises the step of retaining the first and second rigid side section floors parallel to and proximate the first and second center section side planes, respectively. 22. A method of sheltering persons and equipment comprising the steps of: a. providing a center section having a front end and an open back end that define respective vertical front and back end planes, and opposed first and second sides that define respective first and second vertical side planes, and having a rigid floor, corner posts, and a rigid roof;b. folding first and second side sections to lie generally within the center section first and second side planes, respectively, to close the center sections first and second sides and cooperate with the center section floor, roof, and ends to make a shelter that is in a transport mode;c. unfolding the first and second side sections to be substantially outside of the center section first and second side planes, respectively, and cooperate with the center section to convert the shelter into a deployed mode;d. hinging a to door to the center section back end proximate the roof thereof;e. hinging a bottom door to the center section back end proximate the floor thereof; andf. fixing rails to the center section floor and to the bottom door, wherein the step of folding the first and second side sections comprises the steps of: i) rotating first and second rigid side section floors to be parallel to and proximate the first and second center section side planes, respectively;ii) turning multiple first and second side section panels to be alongside the first and second side section floors and generally within the first and second center section side planes, respectively, and closing the center section first and second sides; andiii) locking the first and second side section panels to the center section floor and thereby placing the shelter in the transport mode, the method of comprising the further steps of: a. pivoting the top and bottom doors to be generally parallel to the center section roof and floor, respectively;b. rolling a cart along the rails from a first location inside the center section to a second location outside the center section and on the bottom door; andc. covering and sealing the center section open back end in response to rolling the cart to the second location thereof.