Expandable expeditionary container system

Abstract

A containerized expeditionary system that can be expanded from a compact, container sized unit to significantly increase the interior space, thereby allowing for use as a shelter, laundry, office, restroom, etc., or combinations therein. The system has a body with a pair of end walls, a pair of side walls, a floor, and a roof defining an interior space. A set of doors can be opened to allow a series of panels pivotally coupled to the body to be moved from a stowed configuration into a deployed configuration where the panels extend out of body to form an enclosure defining a second interior space that combines with the first interior space. The panels are positioned in the ends of the container to maximize the internal space so that the container can include all of the necessary equipment to provide the desired functionality at a location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing facilities at a location, comprising:
 a body having a pair of end walls, a pair of side walls, a floor, and a roof defining a first interior space;   a set of doors forming at least part of one of the pair of end walls and capable of movement between a closed position and an open position that permits access to the interior space; and   a series of panels pivotally coupled to the body within the interior space proximately to the set of doors and positioned to be movable between a stowed configuration, wherein each of the series of panels is contained within the interior space of the body, and a deployed configuration, wherein each of the series of panels extends out of the interior space to form an enclosure defining a second interior space in communication with the first interior space.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the series of panels are pivotally coupled to the body so that, in the stowed configuration, the series of panels extend in parallel to the set of doors in the closed position and, in the deployed configuration, the series of panels extend in parallel to the pair of side walls. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the series of panels comprises five panels and four of the panels are pivotally connected to the body. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the fifth of the series of panels is pivotally connected to one of the four panels that are pivotally connected to the body. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the fifth of the series of panels includes a door positioned therein. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein each of the series of panels may be releasably secured to at least one other of the series of panels when the series of panels are in the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the series of panels may be releasably secured to at least one other of the series of panels using a draw latch. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the body is configured as a shipping container. 
     
     
         9 . A method of providing a temporary facility, comprising the steps of:
 providing a body having a pair of end walls having a set of doors, a pair of side walls, a floor, and a roof defining a first interior space and a series of panels pivotally coupled to the body within the interior space and positioned proximately to the set of doors; and   moving the series of panels from a stowed configuration, wherein each of the series of panels is contained within the interior space of the body, to a deployed configuration, wherein each of the series of panels extends out of the interior space to form a second interior space in communication with the first interior space.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of transporting the body to a location where the temporary facility is needed prior to the step of moving the series of panels from a stowed configuration into the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the body includes at least one bed, a toilet, and a sink. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the body includes a kitchen and one of the series of panels includes a serving window. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the body includes at least one laundry stack.