Collapsible containerized shelter transportable by self-loading vehicles

Abstract

A portable collapsible shelter is provided which collapses into a standard ISO shipping container which can be handled by self-loading vehicles and which can be expanded to form a shelter by providing fold-down side walls which extend the floor space of the container and a cover to enclose the extended space.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable, collapsible shelter comprising: 
 a) a rigid, hollow container having opposed vertical sides, and a horizontal top and bottom, said container having the dimensions and characteristics which satisfy the standards for ISO shipping containers;    b) at least one of said vertical sides comprising a pivoting wall portion hinged along the lower edge thereof to pivot between a closed vertical position and an open horizontal position;    c) means for releasably securing said pivoting wall portion in said vertical position;    d) means for releasably maintaining said pivoting wall portion in said horizontal position; and    e) a cover adapted to be extended above said pivoting wall portion while said pivoting wall portion is in said lowered horizontal position; and    wherein said container is adapted to be loaded and unloaded by a self-loading vehicle.    
     
     
         2 . The shelter of  claim 1  wherein said container is adapted to be loaded and unloaded by a self-loading vehicle having a hook by comprising a hook bar for engaging said hook.  
     
     
         3 . The shelter of  claim 1  wherein said container is adapted to be loaded and unloaded by a self-loading vehicle by comprising parallel longitudinal rails extending downwardly from a lower surface thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The shelter of  claim 3  wherein said container is adapted to be loaded and unloaded by a self-loading vehicle by comprising a locking plate located on one of said parallel longitudinal rails.  
     
     
         5 . The shelter of  claim 1  wherein said container is adapted to be loaded and unloaded by a self-loading vehicle by comprising a pair of wheels extending downwardly from the lower rear area thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The shelter of  claim 1  wherein said cover comprises a flexible fabric.  
     
     
         7 . The shelter of  claim 6  further comprising means for supporting said fabric cover above said hinged vertical side while said pivoting wall portion is in said lowered horizontal position.  
     
     
         8 . The shelter of  claim 1  wherein said means for releasably aintaining said pivoting wall portion in said horizontal position comprises levelling means.  
     
     
         9 . The shelter of  claim 8  wherein said levelling means comprises a jack.  
     
     
         10 . The shelter of  claim 1  further comprising means for raising and lowering said pivoting wall portion.  
     
     
         11 . The shelter of  claim 10  wherein said means for raising and lowering said pivoting wall portion comprises a cable connected to said pivoting wall portion and winching means.  
     
     
         12 . The shelter of  claim 6  wherein said fabric cover is secured to the outer lengthwise edge of said pivoting wall portion when said pivoting wall portion is in said horizontal position.  
     
     
         13 . The shelter of  claim 12  wherein said fabric cover is secured to the transverse edges of said pivoting wall portion which are perpendicular to said outer lengthwise edge of said pivoting wall portion when said pivoting wall portion is in said horizontal position.  
     
     
         14 . The shelter of  claim 7  wherein said means for supporting said fabric cover above said pivoting wall portion while said pivoting wall portion is in said lowered horizontal position comprise rigid or semi-rigid beams attached to said container at either end of said beams.  
     
     
         15 . The shelter of  claim 1  wherein said means for releasably securing said pivoting wall portion in said vertical position comprise racking locks.  
     
     
         16 . A portable, collapsible shelter comprising a rigid, hollow container having opposed vertical sides, and a horizontal top and bottom, said container having the dimensions and characteristics which satisfy the standards for ISO shipping containers wherein said container is adapted to expanded from a first transport configuration to an expanded configuration, and is adapted to be loaded and unloaded by a self-loading vehicle.  
     
     
         17 . The shelter of  claim 16  wherein said container is adapted to be loaded and unloaded by a self-loading vehicle having a hook by comprising a hook bar for engaging said hook.  
     
     
         18 . The shelter of  claim 16  wherein said container is adapted to be loaded and unloaded by a self-loading vehicle by comprising parallel longitudinal rails extending downwardly from a lower surface thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The shelter of  claim 18  wherein said container is adapted to be loaded and unloaded by a self-loading vehicle by comprising a locking plate located on one of said parallel longitudinal rails.  
     
     
         20 . The shelter of  claim 16  wherein said container is adapted to be loaded and unloaded by a self-loading vehicle by comprising a pair of wheels extending downwardly from the lower rear area thereof.