Folding shed

Abstract

The apparatus described herein includes a folding shelter structure. The folding structure includes a roof, two sidewalls, two end walls a floor. The floor is divided into two sections, each section pivotally connected to a sidewall. The roof may be divided into two sections, each section pivotally connected to a sidewall. Each end wall may be divided into two sections that are pivotally connected to each other and to the sidewall adjacent the section. The folding structure is transformed from an operation to a storage or transport configuration by outwardly pivoting each roof section until the exterior surface of each roof section approximately abuts the exterior surface of the respective sidewall to which it is connected. The floor section is inwardly pivoted until the top surface of each floor section approximately abuts the interior surface of the respective sidewall to which it is connected and sandwiched between the sidewalls and the end walls. The roof may be supported by removable trusses extending between the side walls and supported at the end walls by a channel.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A folding shed comprising
 a first sidewall and a second sidewall;   a first roof section pivotally coupled with the first sidewall;   a second roof section pivotally coupled with the second sidewall;   a foldable first end wall pivotally coupled with the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and   a foldable second end wall pivotally coupled with the first sidewall and the second sidewall, wherein the first and second roof sections are configured to pivot from the outside of the sidewalls around to be placed in a position proximal the tops of the first and second end wall, wherein a support member is provided to engage the first end wall on a first end of the first roof section or to engage the roof section on an interior portion of the roof section in such a way that the support member limits the movement of the end wall or the side wall in an outward or inward direction.   
     
     
         2 . The folding shed of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is an elongated channel that limits the movement of the end wall in a direction parallel with at least one of the first and second side walls. 
     
     
         3 . The folding shed of  claim 2 , wherein each end of each of the first and second roof sections proximal to the first and second end walls includes the elongated channel. 
     
     
         4 . The folding shed of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated channel is less than half the length of the edge of the roof section proximal to the top of the end wall. 
     
     
         5 . The folding shed of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated channel is more than half the length of the edge of the roof section proximal to the top of the end wall. 
     
     
         6 . The folding shed of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated channel includes an aperture that extends through a first wall of the elongated channel and a second wall of the elongated channel. 
     
     
         7 . The folding shed of  claim 6 , wherein the end wall includes an aperture that aligns with the aperture of the elongated channel when the first roof section is pivoted around to from a roof over the folding shed. 
     
     
         8 . The folding shed of  claim 7 , wherein a pin extends through the aperture of the elongated channel and the aperture of the first end wall thereby fixing the first roof section in place relative to the end wall. 
     
     
         9 . The folding shed of  claim 1 , wherein the support member includes at least one truss that extends from the first side wall to the second side wall. 
     
     
         10 . The folding shed of  claim 9 , wherein the truss limits the movement of the side walls by fixedly attaching to each of the side walls and providing a ridged attachment through the truss between each of the side walls. 
     
     
         11 . The folding shed of  claim 9 , wherein the truss includes a riser portion that follows the contour of the first and second roof sections as they extend from one side wall to the other. 
     
     
         12 . The folding shed of  claim 9 , wherein the truss provides vertical support to the first and second roof sections limiting their ability to sag. 
     
     
         13 . The folding shed of  claim 9 , wherein a plurality of trusses are positioned between the first end wall and the second end wall. 
     
     
         14 . The folding shed of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of trusses extend between the first wall portion and the second wall portion. 
     
     
         15 . A folding shed comprising
 a first sidewall and a second sidewall;   a first roof section pivotally coupled with the first sidewall;   a second roof section pivotally coupled with the second sidewall;   a foldable first end wall pivotally coupled with the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and   a foldable second end wall pivotally coupled with the first sidewall and the second sidewall, wherein a first floor section and a second floor section are operable to cover a lower interior space of the folding shed.   
     
     
         16 . The folding shed of  claim 15 , wherein the first floor section is operable to pivot up from the lower interior space of the folding shed to approximately abut the first side wall as the folding shed is transformed into a folded position. 
     
     
         17 . The folding shed of  claim 15 , wherein the first floor section is sandwiched between the first sidewall and the first end wall when the folding shed is folded. 
     
     
         18 . The folding shed of  claim 15 , wherein the first side wall includes protrusions on a first end and a second end proximal to the pivotable joints with the first end wall and the second end wall, wherein the hinged connection between the first end wall and the first side wall and the second end wall and the second side wall are located on the protrusions with the first floor section operable to nest between the two protrusions. 
     
     
         19 . A folding shed comprising
 a first sidewall and a second sidewall;   a first roof section pivotally coupled with the first sidewall;   a second roof section pivotally coupled with the second sidewall;   a foldable first end wall pivotally coupled with the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and   a foldable second end wall pivotally coupled with the first sidewall and the second sidewall, wherein at least one of the first and second end walls or first and second side walls include an aperture which receives an engagement feature from a wheel assembly operable as a jack.   
     
     
         20 . The folding shed of  claim 19 , wherein the aperture is an open end of a tubular member that forms the bottom frame member of at least one of the first and second end walls or first and second side walls. 
     
     
         21 . The folding shed of  claim 20 , wherein the engagement member is part of an L-shaped bracket that extends from the wheel assembly with a lateral member of the L-shaped bracket sized to engage the aperture. 
     
     
         22 . The folding shed of  claim 21 , wherein the tubular member which defines the aperture includes a second aperture which passes through a side wall of the tubular member. 
     
     
         23 . The folding shed of  claim 22 , wherein the lateral member includes an aperture there through. The tubular member aperture and the lateral member aperture are operable to align after the lateral member is inserted into the tubular member. 
     
     
         24 . The folding shed of  claim 23 , wherein the shed includes a locking pin inserted through the aperture in the tubular member and through the aperture in the lateral member in response to the lateral member being inserted to an engagement distance within the tubular member. 
     
     
         25 . The folding shed of  claim 24 , wherein each of the first and second side walls, the first and second roof sections and the first and second end walls are formed from a plurality of tubular frame members connected to one another. 
     
     
         26 . The folding shed of  claim 25 , further comprising an exterior sheathing fastened to the tubular frame members on the exterior of the folding shed. 
     
     
         27 . A folding shed comprising
 a first sidewall and a second sidewall;   a first roof section pivotally coupled with the first sidewall;   a second roof section pivotally coupled with the second sidewall;   a foldable first end wall pivotally coupled with the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and   a foldable second end wall pivotally coupled with the first sidewall and the second sidewall, wherein at least one of the first and second end walls or first and second side walls is a common wall with another structure.   
     
     
         28 . The folding shed of  claim 27 , wherein the structure is be a semi-trailer. 
     
     
         29 . The folding shed of  claim 27 , wherein the common wall is a side wall and the end walls flex out away from the common wall. 
     
     
         30 . The folding shed of  claim 27 , wherein the second roof section is pivotably attached to the common wall. 
     
     
         31 . A folding shed comprising
 a first sidewall and a second sidewall;   a first roof section pivotally coupled with the first sidewall;   a second roof section pivotally coupled with the second sidewall;   a foldable first end wall pivotally coupled with the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and   a foldable second end wall pivotally coupled with the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the first and second roof section are configured to pivot from the outside of the sidewalls around to be placed in a position proximal the tops of the first and second end wall, wherein the first roof section folds over and engages the seal plate against the top of the second roof section, wherein the seal plate has a first leg and second leg with a first angle there between and the angle is less than the angle between the top surface of the first roof section and the top surface of the second roof section with the seal plate contacting the top surface of the second roof section.