Title of Invention

AN EXPANDABLE MOBILE HARD WALL SHELTER

Abstract

An expanding container of the box-in-box type having a central box and first and second side boxes nested therein in a transparent condition. The side boxes are movable partly supported on hydraulically operated telescoping beams to a laterally extended operating condition. The floor of the first side box is hinged at its outer end to the lower part of the outer wall of the first box so as to be pivoted between a vertical transport condition and a horizontal operating condition flush with the floor of the central box The second side box is lowered somewhat when moved laterally outwards so that also its floor become flush with the central box floor in operating condition.

Full Text

DESCRIPTION AN EXPANDING CONTAINER The present invention relates to an expanding container as defined in the preamble of claim 1. Such a container is often referred to as a box-in-box container. Containers of this type are used e.g. for military purposes for deployment in the filed as portable shelters, hospitals, command centrals etc. In the most common type of expanding container having laterally movable side boxes, the side boxes have to be pulled manually from their nested transport condition to the extended service condition. To enable two persons to do this, the container will have to be leveled to an almost perfect horizontal position. This means that when the container has been transported on a truck, it will have to be lifted down from the truck to the ground and leveled before being brought into the extended service condition. This also means that there are limits to the places where the container can be located. Further more, the side boxes are pulled straight out Irom the central box, with the result that the level of the floors of the extended side boxes will be different from each other and higher than the floor of the central box, thus resulting in awkward steps between them. Besides, the ceiling height is severely limited, particularly in the inner side box. An object of the present invention is to provide as expanding box-in-box container that can be brought to service condition quickly and automatically without removing it from the transporting vehicle and without the need for substantial manual labour. A further object is to obtain a box-in-box container wherein the floors are at the same level in service condition and wherein the ceiling height is limited to a lesser degree. These and other objects are obtained by the expanding container defined in the appended claims and exemplified in the appended drawings. In some of the drawings the side boxes are referred to as drawers. Although the drawings show a container having two extensible side boxes, it will be understood that the present invention can also be envisioned with only one side box. Other modifications and variations within the scope of the invention will be apparent to the skilled person. As an example, the hydraulic cylinders shown may be replaced by a screw arrangement. Brief Description of drawing Figure 1 shows the 3 Dimensional view of an expanding container in expanded condition. Figure 2 shows the view of an expanding container in transported condition. Figure 3 shows the plan view of an expanding container in expanded condition. CLAIMS 1. An expanding container comprising a central box having open longitudinal sides, a first side box having one open longitudinal side and fitting inside the central box through one of its open longitudinal sides, and a second side box fitting inside the first side box through its open longitudinal side and the other open longitudinal side of the central box, the closed longitudinal sides of the side boxes forming the longitudinal sides of the container when in a transported condition, the side boxes being movable laterally from the transport condition to form extensions of the central box on either side thereof, characterized in that the floor of the first side box is hinged to the base of its closed longitudinal side so as to be pivotal between an upright position in the transport condition and a horizontal position, preferably flush with the floor of the central box, when in the extended operafing position. 2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the second side box is arranged to be lowered somewhat during the lateral movement so that its floor will be flush with the floor of the central box when in the extended position. 3. An expanding container of the box-in -box type having a central box and at least one, preferably two side boxes movable between a transport condition inside the central box and an extended operating position, wherein the side boxes are movable to, and preferable from, said extended position by telescoping beams mounted to the lower part of the central box. 4. A container according to claim 3, wherein mechanical means, preferably hydraulic piston cylinder assemblies, are arranged to perform the movement of the side boxes from transport condition to the extended condition, and vice versa. 5. A container according to claim 4, wherein said mechanical means are arranged inside said telescoping beams. 6. A container according to claim 4 or 5, wherein there are at least two telescoping beams with hydraulic piston cylinder arrangements for each side box, the hydraulic feed systems for each side box containing an equalizer that splits the hydraulic fluid flow equally between the hydraulic cylinders to ensure that their pistons move at the same speed. 7. A container according to claim 6, wherein the pumps of the hydraulic feed systems are driven by 24V DC electric motors. 8. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, where in at least one guide profile is arranged on the underside of the pivotal floor of the first side box for cooperation with an antifriction arrangement, preferably a roller at the adjacent edge of the floor of the central box for lowering and raising the pivotal floor upon outward and inward movement, respectively, of the first side box. 1 9. A container according to any one of claims 2-8, wherein antifriction means, such as rollers, are arranged on the underside of the floor of the second side box to permit the second side box to be supported on the floor of the central box during its lateral movements. 10. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is supported on a vehicle, preferably on the bed of a truck, when brought from transport to service condition.

Documents:

3329-CHE-2008 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 24-03-2014.pdf

3329-CHE-2008 AMENDED CLAIMS 24-03-2014.pdf

3329-CHE-2008 EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECEIVED 24-03-2014.pdf

3329-che-2008 form-13 11-03-2011.pdf

3329-CHE-2008 FORM-13 24-03-2014.pdf

3329-CHE-2008 AMENDED CLAIMS 30-10-2014.pdf

3329-CHE-2008 AMENDED CLAIMS 13-06-2014.pdf

3329-CHE-2008 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 13-06-2014.pdf

3329-CHE-2008 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 30-10-2014.pdf

3329-CHE-2008 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 30-10-2014.pdf

3329-CHE-2008 EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECEIVED 13-06-2014.pdf

3329-CHE-2008 FORM-13 30-10-2014.pdf

3329-CHE-2008 FORM-18 31-12-2008.pdf

3329-che-2008 abstract.pdf

3329-che-2008 claims.pdf

3329-che-2008 description (complete).pdf

3329-che-2008 drawings.pdf

3329-che-2008 form-1.pdf

3329-CHE-2008 FORM-13 14-05-2010.pdf