Method and system for a foldable structure employing material-filled panels

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention can include a foldable structure employing material-filled panels which can be used as an emergency shelter in disaster areas. A building can formed from one or more building blocks. The building blocks can be in a compact position, such as when being transported to a disaster area, or in an expanded position, such as when the building is ready to be built in the disaster area. In the expanded position, the building blocks can be filled with various materials such as expanding foam material. The expanding foam material can be formed from two mixing materials. In addition, the expanding foam material can have insulating properties. The building of the present invention can also be used, for example, as sheds, tree houses, and/or permanent housing. The building blocks can have marine applications and/or military application due to their light weight, yet, ballistic nature.

1 . A building block comprising:
 a first panel;   a second panel opposing the first panel; and   a plurality of stringers connecting the first panel and the second panel, wherein the first panel, the second panel, and the plurality of stringers are configured to switch between a compact position and an expanded position.   
     
     
         2 . The building block of  claim 1  wherein the first panel, the second panel, and the plurality of stringers define a support material area. 
     
     
         3 . The building block of  claim 2  wherein the support material area is configured to receive a support material. 
     
     
         4 . The building block of  claim 3  wherein the support material is at least one of an expanding foam material, cement, organic material, rubble, earth, adobe, or plant matter. 
     
     
         5 . The building block of  claim 4  wherein the support material is an expanding foam material which substantially completes its expansion prior to substantially setting. 
     
     
         6 . A building comprising:
 a plurality of building blocks, each of the building blocks including:   a first panel;   a second panel opposing the first panel; and   a plurality of stringers connecting the first panel and the second panel, wherein each of the building blocks is configured to switch between a compact position and an expanded position.   
     
     
         7 . The building of  claim 6  wherein each of the building blocks further includes a plurality of ribs located within the first panel and the second panel. 
     
     
         8 . The building of  claim 7  wherein the building blocks includes a first building block and a second building block, and the first building block is connected to the second building block by connecting the ribs in the first building block and the ribs in the second building block. 
     
     
         9 . The building of  claim 6  each of the building blocks is configured to include an expandable foam material. 
     
     
         10 . A building kit comprising:
 a building block in a compact position;   a first mixing material; and   a second mixing material, the first mixing material and the second mixing material selected such that a mixture of the first mixing material and the second mixing material forms an expandable foam material which can be placed within the building block.   
     
     
         11 . The building kit of  claim 10  wherein the building block is configured to switch between the compact position and an expanded position, and the expandable foam material is placed within the building block when the building block is in the expanded position. 
     
     
         12 . The building kit of  claim 10  wherein the building block includes
 a first panel, 
 a second panel opposing the first panel, and 
 a plurality of stringers connecting the first panel and the second panel. 
 
     
     
         13 . The building kit of  claim 10  further comprising a plurality of anchors configured to be attached to the building block. 
     
     
         14 . A method for constructing a building comprising:
 transforming a first building block from a compact position to an expanded position;   placing support material in a support material area in the first building block;   transforming a second building block from a compact position to an expanded position; and   connecting the first building block with the second building block.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the support material is an expanding foam material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising mixing a first mixing material with a second mixing material to form the expanding foam material. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising removing excess expanding foam material when the expanding foam material is substantially set. 
     
     
         18 . A method for constructing a shed comprising:
 transforming only a single building block from a compact position to an expanded position;   placing support material in a support material area in the building block;   transforming a roof from a compact position to an expanded position; and   connecting the roof to the single building block.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 forming a door from the single building block. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising mixing a first mixing material with a second mixing material to form the support material.