Extendable room

• US 5,983,576 A
• Filed: 07/16/1997
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HWH Corporation
• Original Assignee: HWH Corporation
• Inventors: Reckmeyer, William G., Frerichs, Marc E., Hanser, Paul E., Hanser, Stacy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US08/895,210
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 52/67, 52/70, 52/71, 296/26, 296/165, 296/170, 296/171, 296/172, 296/174, 296/175, 296/176, 296/26.1
• US Class Current: 52/67
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/34 the living accommodation being expansible, collapsible or capable of rearrangement B60P3/38 takes precedence; tents supported at least partially by vehicles E04H15/06

Abstract

An extendable room comprises accordion type ceiling and wall panels which fold within panel covers when the room is retracted, thereby taking up much less interior space and leaving the interior of the primary structure just as attractive, albeit smaller, as prior to retraction. The wall and ceiling panels are hinged together with tongue and groove connections and are secured in the flat, extended configuration by steel cables running through the panels. The side walls also include windows which may be made clear and opaque electronically. The secondary floor is retractable below the floor of the primary structure when the room is retracted, permitting the room extension floor to become the primary floor.

Claims

1. A room extendable and retractable with respect to a primary structure, comprising

(a) a primary support frame having a top, a first side, a second side, and a bottom, said primary support frame secured to a side of the play-structure;

(b) a room support frame having a top, a first side, a second side, and a bottom, said room support frame movable with respect to said primary support frame between a retracted position adjacent said primary support frame and an extended position removed from said primary support frame;

(c) an outer wall, secured to said room support frame;

(d) at least one of

(1) a folding ceiling, comprised of a plurality of foldable panels, secured along an edge thereof to said room support frame top;

said ceiling extending between said room support frame top and said primary sup frame top in a flat, unfolded configuration when said room support frame is extended and folding into an accordion configuration within the primary structure when said room support frame is retracted;

(2) a first folding side wall, comprised of a plurality of foldable panels, secured along an edge thereof to said room support frame first side;

said wall extending between said room support frame side and said primary support frame side in a flat, unfolded configuration when said room frame is extended and folding into an accordion configuration within the primary structure when said room support frame is retracted; and

(3) a second folding side wall, comprised of a plurality of foldable panels, secured along an edge thereof to said room support frame second side;

said wall extending between said room support frame side and said primary support frame side in a flat, unfolded configuration when said room frame is extended and folding into an accordion configuration within the primary structure when said room support frame is retracted; and

(e) a floor secured to said room support frame bottom; and

(f) an actuator for moving said room support frame with respect to said primary support frame; and

(g) further comprising at least one of (1) a ceiling cover, (2) a first side wall cover, and (3) a second side wall cover, secured to said primary support frame for enclosing said at least one of (1) a folding ceiling, (2) a first folding side wall, and (3) a second folding side wall, when in said accordion configuration.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said floor is a retractable floor, movable between a lowered, retracted position when said room support frame is retracted and a raised position with said room support frame is extended.

3. The invention as recited in claim 1 and further comprising a stiffener cable passing within said at least one of (1) a folding ceiling, (2) a first folding side wall, and (3) a second folding side wall, said stiffener cable having a taut state whereby said panels are secured in a flat configuration and a slack state whereby said panels may be folded.

4. A room extendable and retractable with respect to a primary structure, comprising:

(a) a primary support frame secured to the primary structure, said primary support frame having a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side;

(b) a room support frame having a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side;

said room support frame movable with respect to said primary support frame;

(c) an outer wall secured to said room support frame;

(d) at least one of

(1) a foldable ceiling pivotally affixed to said room support frame top;

(2) a first foldable side wall pivotally affixed to said room support frame first side; and

(3) a second foldable side wall pivotally affixed to said room support frame second side; and

(e) an actuator for moving said room support frame with respect to said primary support frame; and

(f) wherein said at least one of a foldable ceiling, a first foldable side wall and a second foldable side wall are comprised of a plurality of elongate panels having inner and outer faces and interlocking tongue and groove edges, said panels hingedly secured together along said interlocking edges and further including an internal cable running within and between said panels for locking said panels into a flat configuration when said cable is in a taut state.

5. A room expendable and retractable with respect to a primary structure, comprising:

(a) a primary support frame secured to the primary structure, said primary support frame having a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side;

(b) a room support frame having a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side;

said room support frame movable with respect to said primary support frame;

(c) an outer wall secured to said room support frame;

(d) at least one of

(1) a foldable ceiling pivotally affixed to said room support frame top;

(2) a first foldable side wall pivotally affixed to said room support frame first side; and

(3) a second foldable side wall pivotally affixed to said room support frame second side; and

(e) an actuator for moving said room support frame with respect to said primary support frame; and

(f) further comprising at least one of (1) a ceiling cover, (2) a first side wall cover, and (3) a second side wall cover, secured to said primary support frame for enclosing said at least one a folding ceiling, a first folding side wall and a second folding side wall when in a folded configuration.