Structure having convertible roof and walls

• US 8,701,356 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2012
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cabrio Structures LLC
• Original Assignee: Cabrio Companies LLC
• Inventors: Forsland, Kent Harry, Peters, Michael Dennis, Schraw, Luke Duane
• Primary Examiner(s): Katcheves, Basil
• Assistant Examiner(s): MINTZ, RODNEY K
• Application Number:
  US13/552,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20130042541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 52/66, 52/67, 52/6, 52/64, 52/72, 52/795, 52/68, 449/4
• US Class Current: 52/66
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/19 Three-dimensional framework structures
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/24 the supporting parts consisting of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/343 Structures characterised by movable, separable, or collapsible parts, e.g. for transport movable roof parts E04B7/16; floatable buildings B63B; small prefabricated buildings, transportable as a whole, E04H1/12; small garages E04H6/02; tents or canopies, in general E04H15/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/34305 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/3455 Wheeled arch-type structures
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/199 Details of roofs, floors or walls supported by the framework
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 7/166 characterised by a translation movement of the movable roof part, with or without additional movements

Abstract

A movable enclosure is configured to selectively enclose an area. The enclosure includes at least one side wall and an end wall attached thereto. The side wall comprises a number of individual panels that are independently movable along a track secured to the ground. The panels are selectively collapsible such that they may travel along the track and overlap one another when in a collapsed or stowed position. The enclosure may be configured in any number of intermediate positions wherein the panels are partially collapsed. Roof panels may be attached to the side walls for movement therewith, or alternatively, the roof panels may operate independent of the side walls to extend and retract between an open and collapsed configuration.

Claims

1. A building structure comprising:

a fixed structural frame defining an enclosable region having a perimeter defined by a length and a width, the fixed structural frame including a horizontal side beam supported by vertical posts, the horizontal side beam extending along the length of the enclosable region, the enclosable region including a first end separated from a second end by the length of the enclosable region, the enclosable region also having a side that extends along the length of the enclosable region between the first and second ends;

a convertible roof including a plurality of roof sections that each span the width of the enclosable region, the plurality of roof sections including movable roof sections that are slidably mounted to roof tracks, the roof tracks being elevated above head level and mounted to the horizontal side beam, the convertible roof being convertible between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the movable roof sections being movable relative to the fixed structural frame along the roof tracks to convert the convertible roof between the open configuration and the closed configuration, at least two of the roof sections substantially overlapping one another when the convertible roof is in the open configuration, and the enclosable region being at least 40 percent uncovered when the roof sections are in the open configuration;

a convertible side wall provided at the side of the enclosable region, the convertible side wall being convertible between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the convertible side wall including a plurality of side wall sections, the plurality of side wall sections including movable side wall sections that are slidably mounted to side wall tracks that extend in a direction along the length of the enclosable region, the side wall tracks being mounted to the horizontal side beam, the movable side wall sections being movable along the side wall tracks independent of the roof sections, the side wall sections being movable relative to the fixed structural frame along the side wall tracks to convert the convertible side wall between the open configuration and the closed configuration, at least two of the side wall sections substantially overlapping one another when the convertible side wall is in the open configuration, and the side of the enclosable region being at least 40 percent open when the convertible side wall is in the open configuration; and

a convertible end wall provided at the first end of the enclosable region, the convertible end wall being convertible between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the convertible end wall including a plurality of end wall sections, the plurality of end wall sections including movable end wall sections that are slidably mounted to end wall tracks that extend in a direction along the width of the enclosable region, the movable end wall sections being movable along the end wall tracks independent of the roof sections and the side wall sections, the end wall sections being movable relative to the fixed structural frame along the end wall tracks to convert the convertible end wall between the open configuration and the closed configuration, at least two of the end wall sections substantially overlapping one another when the convertible end wall is in the open configuration, and the first end of the enclosable region being at least 40 percent open when the convertible end wall is in the open configuration; and

the roof sections forming a stack when the convertible roof is in the open configuration, and at least a portion of the stack being positioned outside the perimeter of the enclosable region.

2. The building structure of claim 1, wherein a space above the enclosable region is at least 70 percent open when the convertible roof is in the open configuration.

3. The building structure of claim 1, wherein a space above the enclosable region is at least 80 percent open when the convertible roof is in the open configuration.

4. The building structure of claim 1, wherein a space above the enclosable region is at least 90 percent open when the convertible roof is in the open configuration.

5. The building structure of claim 1, wherein a space above the enclosable region is 100 percent open when the convertible roof is in the open configuration.

6. The building structure of claim 1, wherein the fixed structural frame defines an overhang portion positioned over an outside location, and wherein the portion of the stack outside the perimeter of the enclosable region is supported on the overhang portion to form a verandah outside the enclosable region.

7. The building structure of claim 1, wherein at least a majority of the stack is positioned outside the perimeter of the enclosable region.

8. The building structure of claim 7, wherein the fixed structural frame defines an overhang portion positioned over an outside location, and wherein the majority of the stack outside the perimeter of the enclosable region is supported on the overhang portion to form a verandah outside the enclosable region.