초록 ▼

Described embodiments relate to a transportable expandable building structure for human occupancy. The building structure comprises at least first, second and third frame modules arranged to nest with each other in a contracted position and to telescopically expand into an expanded position. One of

Described embodiments relate to a transportable expandable building structure for human occupancy. The building structure comprises at least first, second and third frame modules arranged to nest with each other in a contracted position and to telescopically expand into an expanded position. One of the first, second and third frame modules is a base unit frame module that forms part of a base unit and the other frame modules are arranged to be movable away from the base unit to adopt the expanded position. The base unit has a fixed floor and is arranged to support the building structure in the contracted position to enable transportation of the building structure by road. Each of the frame modules is different in size from an adjacent one10 of the frame modules and comprises a floor portion, a roof portion and opposed side portions. Each side portion defines a same-sized modular insert region to receive modular door, window or wall inserts.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A transportable expandable building structure adjustable between a contracted state to enable transportation of the building structure, and an expanded state to provide the building structure for human occupancy, the expandable building structure comprising: at least first, second and third frame

1. A transportable expandable building structure adjustable between a contracted state to enable transportation of the building structure, and an expanded state to provide the building structure for human occupancy, the expandable building structure comprising: at least first, second and third frame modules arranged to nest with each other in the contracted state and to telescopically expand into the expanded state, wherein one of the first, second and third frame modules is a base unit frame module that forms part of a base unit comprising a fixed floor arranged to support the building structure in the contracted state, and the other frame modules are expander modules comprising wheels or rollers and arranged to be movable away from the base unit to adopt the expanded state; andtracks associated with each of the expander modules, each track comprising: a fixed portion fixed to an adjacent one of the frame modules to the associated expander module to support the associated expander module in the contracted state; andan extension portion hingedly coupled to the adjacent frame module to support the associated expander module in the expanded state, wherein the extension portion is rotated up alongside the adjacent frame module in the contracted state and is rotated out so as to extend away from the adjacent frame module in the expanded state, such that the fixed portion and extension portion are aligned and together define a channel configured to receive the wheels or rollers of the associated expander module and to allow movement of the expander module along the track between the contracted state and the expanded state, and wherein each of the frame modules is different in size from the adjacent one of the frame modules and comprises a floor portion, a roof portion and opposed side portions. 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein each side portion defines a same-sized modular insert region to receive modular door, window or wall inserts. 3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the side portions of the expander modules include a lower brace incorporating the wheels or rollers. 4. The structure of claim 1, wherein the at least first, second and third frame modules comprise a drainage structure to drain water from respective said roof portions. 5. The structure of claim 1, wherein in the expanded state, floor mounts for supporting the floor portions of the expander modules are folded down from the base unit to receive the floor portions, such that the floor portions of each expander module are level with the fixed floor of the base unit. 6. The structure of claim 5, wherein the floor portions for the expander modules each comprise one or more floor inserts, each floor insert configured to allow handling by a single operator. 7. The structure of claim 1, further comprising fixation means to fix the first, second and third frame modules in the contracted state or in the expanded state. 8. The structure of claim 7, wherein the fixation means includes a series of apertures located in the first, second and third frame modules so that pins received in aligned ones of the apertures substantially prevent movement of the first, second and third frame modules between the contracted state and the expanded state. 9. The structure of claim 1, further comprising a fourth frame module arranged to nest with the first, second and third frame modules. 10. The structure of claim 9, further comprising a fifth frame module arranged to nest with the first, second, third and fourth frame modules. 11. The structure of claim 1, wherein the first frame module is an internal frame module, the second frame module is a central frame module and the third frame module is an external frame module. 12. The structure of claim 11, further comprising a module runner connected to the base unit to guide expansion and contraction of frame modules other than the base unit frame module, wherein the module runner is hinged to said base unit and movable between a closed configuration folded against open end portions of said central module and an open configuration folded down to align with said floor portion of said central module, andwherein the module runner comprises two parallel runner arms hinged at an end proximate to said central module, with each runner arm including the extension portions of the tracks. 13. The structure of claim 11, wherein the side portions of each of the central, internal and external modules comprise side braces positioned to present areas of a same dimension in the side portions of the central, internal and external modules. 14. The structure of claim 11, wherein the end portions of the internal and external modules comprise end braces positioned to present areas of a same dimension in the internal and external modules. 15. The structure of claim 11, wherein the side portions of each of the central, internal and external modules comprise connection sections configured to allow a lateral cross-bar to be connected to extend across a respective said side portion. 16. The structure of claim 15, further comprising the lateral cross-bar connected to the connection sections to extend across at least one of the side portions, and further comprising at least one sub-frame to be supported by the respective at least one side portion and the lateral cross-bar, the at least one sub-frame being configured to receive a modular window or wall insert. 17. The structure of claim 11, wherein end portions of each of the internal and external modules comprise connection sections configured to allow at least one vertical stanchion to be connected to extend across a respective said end portion. 18. The structure of claim 17, further comprising the at least one vertical stanchion connected to end portion connection sections to extend across at least one of the end portions and further comprising at least one sub-frame to be supported by the respective at least one end portion and at least one vertical stanchion, the at least one sub-frame being configured to receive a modular window, wall or door frame insert. 19. An assembly of transportable expandable building structures, comprising: a plurality of the transportable expandable building structures of claim 1; andwherein first and second structures of the plurality are positioned adjacent to each other, wherein the first structure and the second structure are in the expanded state and wherein internal space of the first structure communicates with another internal space of the second structure. 20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the base units of the first and second structures are arranged in parallel and in lateral alignment. 21. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the internal space of the first structure and the another internal space of the second structure defines a substantially open interior space. 22. The assembly of claim 19, further comprising a sealing structure to seal a common space between adjacently positioned frame modules of the first and second structures against water ingress. 23. The assembly of claim 19, further comprising a third structure of the plurality, wherein the third structure is in the expanded state and is positioned adjacent the first structure, wherein the first structure and the third structure are arranged so that the internal space of the first structure communicates with internal space of the third structure.