Convertible hard side shelter

Abstract

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.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A convertible hard side shelter comprising:
 a. a center section having front and back ends and defining opposed first and second side planes and first and second end planes and comprising:
 i. a frame having a plurality of posts; 
 ii. a center section floor on the frame; 
 iii. a roof supported by the posts; and 
 iv. an end door on at least the back end; and 
   b. at least one side section comprising:
 i. a side section floor rotatably connected to the center section to selectively fold between a transport mode and a deployed mode; 
 ii. a number of side section panels mounted to each other and to the center section for selective engagement with the side section floor to selectively fold between a transport mode and a deployed mode; and 
 iii. a cover including a number of cover sections that are individually pivotally and slidably mounted to the frame adjacent the roof and selectively engageable with the side section panels to selectively fold between a transport mode and a deployed mode. 
   
     
     
         2 . The convertible hard side shelter of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a. a number of spaced pairs of brackets secured to the frame, each including a mounting slot therein; and 
 b. an arm secured to each cover section and pivotally and slidably engaged between the pair of brackets. 
 
     
     
         3 . The convertible hard side shelter of  claim 2  wherein the mounting slot includes a flat portion and an angled portion. 
     
     
         4 . The convertible hard side shelter of  claim 2  wherein each cover section includes a pair of spaced arms engaged with a tow pair of brackets disposed on the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The convertible hard side shelter of  claim 2  wherein the arm is generally C-shaped. 
     
     
         6 . The convertible hard side shelter of  claim 5  wherein the arm defines a space between the opposed ends of the arm having a width greater than the width of a beam on the frame to which the arm is engaged. 
     
     
         7 . The convertible hard side shelter of  claim 2  wherein the cover sections define a space between the sections and the frame in the transport position. 
     
     
         8 . The convertible hard side shelter of  claim 1  wherein the cover sections include recesses in which are disposed locking tabs that are selectively engageable with the side section panels in the deployed position. 
     
     
         9 . The convertible hard side shelter of  claim 8  wherein the locking tabs are selectively engageable with locking bars on the side section panels, and wherein the locking bars are engageable with the frame in the transport position. 
     
     
         10 . The convertible hard side shelter of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a. at least one mounting rail disposed on the interior surface of the roof; and 
 b. at least one winch secured to the at least one mounting rail. 
 
     
     
         11 . The convertible hard side shelter of  claim 10  wherein a pair of mounting rails are centrally disposed on the interior surface of the roof to position the at least one winch centrally within the container. 
     
     
         12 . The convertible hard side shelter of  claim 1  wherein each cover section comprises:
 a. an exterior wall; and 
 b. a peripheral reinforcing frame. 
 
     
     
         13 . The convertible hard side shelter of  claim 12  wherein the exterior wall is corrugated. 
     
     
         14 . A shelter that converts between a transport mode and a deployed mode comprising:
 a. a center section comprising a frame with horizontal beams and corner posts, a center section floor on the horizontal beams, and a roof on the corner posts, the center section having front and back ends that define respective front and back vertical end planes, and opposed first and second sides that define respective first and second vertical side planes; and   b. first and second side sections that selectively fold and unfold relative to the center section first and second sides, respectively, the shelter being in the transport mode when the sides sections are folded to lie parallel to and generally within the center section side planes and being in the deployed mode when the side sections are unfolded to lie substantially outside of the center section side planes, wherein the first and second side sections each include a cover formed of a number of individual cover sections pivotally and slidably connected to the frame.   
     
     
         15 . 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, the first and second sides including a cover formed of a number of individual cover sections pivotally and slidably connected to the center section, 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, wherein the cover sections are individually folded; and   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, wherein the cover sections are individually unfolded.