TECHNICAL FIELD
The embodiments described herein are generally related to housing structures, containers, or buildings, portable or fixed. More particularly, the embodiments are related to a housing including roof that can be expanded upward via a lift mechanism, wherein both the roof/cover panels and side walls move to create an opening at the top of the housing as well as at sides of the housing
BACKGROUND
Automobile lifts are commonly used in repair garages so that technicians can easily access the underside of a vehicle. Automobile lifts have been presented in a single post, two post and four post configurations where a flat platform or supports that make contact with hardware underneath a vehicle or with its tires. Such lifts are also useful for storage of more than one vehicle in a single vehicle garage bay, where a first vehicle can be lifted on a platform to make room for a second vehicle to be parked directly underneath the first vehicle. A problem that can be encountered with lifting a vehicle within a housing, such as a garage, is the lack of adequate headroom within the housing. Many residential garages do not have adequate headroom to accommodate raising a vehicle on a lift. There is also a need for vehicle storage, whether on private residential grounds or at a commercial enterprise.
There is a need for smaller scaled housings with roofs that can be expanded upward. For example, an upwardly expandable roof in a housing or garage can allow for a vehicle to be raised up on a lift without worrying about headroom within the garage. The present inventor herein discloses solutions to meet the need for a housing, fixed or portable, that includes an expandable roof that can be selectively raised or lowered.
SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS
In a first embodiment, a housing including side walls, at least one door and a roof is described that includes a lift within the housing that include a vertically raisable platform and vertical support beams coupled to the raisable platform that can be attached to support structure associated with a roof, wherein the lift is operable to raise or lower the roof from side walls of the housing as the lift is raised and lowered.
In accordance with another feature of the first embodiment, weather barrier material can be attached to at least one of the roof or the walls to prevent weather elements (e.g., dust, wind, rain, snow) from entering the housing when the roof is in a raised position.
In accordance with another feature of the first embodiment, the weather barrier material can be provided in the form of canvas and can be attached to the perimeter of the roof and near the upper interior surfaces of the walls and can present a weather barrier up to the maximum raised level of the roof and can self-retract into the housing when the roof is lowered back into contact with the housing walls.
In accordance with another feature of the first embodiment, the weather barrier material can be provided in the form of wall panels attached to the perimeter of the roof that can slidably move along the walls of the housing as the roof is raised or lowered by the lift.
In accordance with another feature of the embodiments, the housing and lift are adapted to store two vehicles within the housing, with a first vehicle raised on the lift platform and the second vehicle parked beneath the first vehicle and platform when raised within the housing.
In accordance with another feature of the embodiments, the at least one door can be provided in the form at least one of a roll-up door, swing out door, a slide door or hanger door such that opening of the door does not interfere with the lift or roof area above the lift.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
FIG. 1, depicts a front view of a housing including a lift installed therein and illustrating range of positions (A-B) for an expandable roof coupled to the lift, according to one or more embodiments described.
FIG. 2, depicts a front view of a housing including a lift installed therein and an expandable roof coupled to the lift and showing the roof expanded upward to accommodate storage of two automobiles, one beneath the other, therein, according to one or more embodiments described.
FIG. 3, depicts a front view of a housing including a lift installed therein and illustrating the roof lowered and at rest on side walls of the housing (position A) and canvas weather barriers retracted into the housing, according to one or more embodiments described.
FIG. 4, depicts a front view of a housing including a lift installed therein and illustrating the roof lowered and at rest on side walls of the housing (position A) and wall panels as weather barriers retracted into the housing alongside the housing's side walls, according to one or more embodiments described.
FIG. 5, depicts a top, side view of a housing with a vertically retractable roof via movement of trusses along a track mounted at the top of horizontal support beams for the housing, in accordance with another embodiment.
FIG. 6, depicts a top, side view of the housing illustrated in FIG. 5 with trusses moved along the tracks towards one end of the housing to reveal an opening in at the roof of the housing, according to one or more embodiments described.
FIG. 7, depicts a top, side view of a housing with the vertically retractable roof illustrated in FIG. 5 with weather barrier material covering the trusses and creating a seal for the housing when the roof is closed, according to one or more embodiments described.
FIG. 8, depicts a top, side view of a housing including optional swing out doors for enclosing the housing, according to one or more embodiments described.
FIG. 9, depicts a top, side view of a housing including optional rolling barn doors for enclosing the housing, according to one or more embodiments described.
FIG. 10, depicts a bottom view of a portable housing flooring and support structure including skids for use when loading the portable housing onto a truck or trailer bed for transport, according to another embodiment described.
FIG. 11, depicts a side view of the portable housing flooring illustrated in FIG. 10, according to one or more embodiments described.
FIG. 12, depicts a side view of the portable housing being loaded onto a flatbed of a truck, according to one or more embodiments described.
FIG. 13, depicts a portable housing utilized as storage for articles on a platform and a vehicle stored/parked beneath the platform, according to one or more embodiments described.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A detailed description will now be provided. Each of the appended claims defines a distinct embodiment of the invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the “invention” may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the “invention” will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims. Each of the embodiments will now be described in greater detail below, including specific embodiments, versions and examples, but the inventions are not limited to these embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventions when the information in this patent is combined with available information and technology. Reference to the term “hingedly” refers to the connection of an end of a panel to either another panel or a floor by a hinge, or the like. When referring to a roof panel, the term “roof panel” or “roof” should also be broadly interpreted to include a cover, whether the cover is represented by one or two panels, given the scalability of the housing described with respect to the various embodiment. A “housing” as referred to herein can be as large as an aviation hangar down to the housing of a small safe or cooking appliance such as an oven. Teaching of a “housing” and some of its aspects as described herein are not meant to be limited.
Referring to FIG. 1, depicted is a front view of a housing 100 including a lift 112 installed therein and illustrating range of positions (A-B) for an expandable roof 103 coupled to a vertically movable lift platform 105. The support framework can include vertical lift support beams 104 extending upward from a floor 101 to a platform 105 connecting the vertical lift support beams 104. The platform 105 can be electrometrically raised or lowered along the vertical lift support beams 104 to various positions. Position A is shown at full lowered position with the platform at rest on the floor 101 of the housing 100, while position B is shown with the platform fully raised upward towards the roof 103. In order to accommodate raising a vehicle supported on the platform within a housing that does not have enough roof clearance, it is a feature of the embodiments to enable the roof 103 to raise upward with movement of the platform 105. As the platform is raised along the vertical lift support beams 104, the roof 103 can also be raised upward with vertical roof supports 106 that can be coupled to the platform 105 and attached to the support structure at the underside of the roof 103. The roof 103 can then become separated from its resting position of housing walls 102. Weather barrier material 107 can be connected to the roof 103 and the housing walls 102 in order to prevent dust or moisture from entering the interior of housing 100 when the roof is in a raised position.
It should be appreciated that the housing is not limited to a pitched roof, and a flat roof (or roof of various angles) can be interchanged with a pitched roof. The platform 105, vertical lift support beams 104 and vertical roof support beams 106 can be made from metal. The vertical roof support beams 106 can be welded to the platform 105 using known welding techniques in order to create a stable support structure for the roof 103 when it is raised. The platform 105 can be mechanically coupled to vertical lift support beams 104 so that it can be electromechanically, hydraulically, or pneumatically manipulated (upward and downward from A-B). It can be appreciated that other materials, such as wood, can be used for the housing and roof and the housing can be constructed by means and methods known in the construction art. There are a variety of lift designs that can be utilized for purposes of providing the lift 112 illustrated in FIG. 1. For example, there are single, double and four post extending lifts used to lift vehicles within a garage. A two-post or four-post lift is preferred for applications where room beneath the platform is required for storage of a second vehicle, as explained with respect to FIG. 2. Lifts can be electromechanically, pneumatically and hydraulically manipulated into extended (up) and retracted (down) positions as indicated by the arrow from A-B.
Referring to FIG. 2, depicted is a front view of the housing 100 in FIG. 1 including a lift 112 installed therein and an expandable roof 103 coupled by vertical roof support beams 106 to the platform 112 and showing the roof 103 expanded upward to accommodate storage of two automobiles, Veh #1 and Veh #2. Veh #2 is shown stowed beneath the platform 112 and Veh #1 which is being supported by the platform 112. The roof is shown raised in order to accommodate the height of Veh #1, which extend above where the roof 103 would be located if it could not be lifted. FIG. 2 illustrates the advantage of this embodiments when used for multiple vehicle storage (one beneath the other). Also shown is weather barrier 107 in extending between the roof 103 and the walls 102 of housing 100.
Referring to FIG. 3, depicted is a front view of the housing 100 in FIG. 1 including a lift 112 installed therein and illustrating the roof 103 lowered and at rest on side walls 102 of the housing 100 (position A). The weather barrier 107 (e.g., a canvas material) is shown retracted into the housing 100 at the completely lowered state for the roof 103.
Referring to FIG. 4, depicted is a front view of the housing 100 in FIG. 1 including a lift 112v installed therein and illustrating the roof 103 lowered and at rest on side walls 102 of the housing 100 (position A). In this embodiment wall panels 106 are shown as weather barriers that can be retracted into the housing alongside the housing's side walls 102 when the roof 103 is being retracted. The wall panels 106 can be coupled to the side walls 102 in a manner that allows them to slide up and down as the roof 103 is moved up and down. Tracking can be used to achieve the coupling of wall panels 106 to side walls 102. Veh #1 is illustrated being stored in the housing 100 when the roof is fully retracted at rest onto the side walls 102.
Referring to FIG. 5, depicted is a top, side view of a housing 500 with a vertically retractable roof trusses 504 via vertical back-forth movement as shown by arrow 511 of the roof trusses 504 along a track 506 mounted at the top of horizontal support beams 505 for the housing 500. Horizontal support beams 505 can be supported by vertical post 505. A first end truss 502 and second end truss 503 are fixedly mounted onto the vertical support beams 505 to provide stability and support for the roof. Referring to FIG. 6, depicted is a top, side view of the housing 500 illustrated in FIG. 5 with trusses moved along the tracks towards one end of the housing to reveal an opening in at the roof of the housing. Referring to FIG. 7, depicted is a top, side view of the housing 500 illustrated in FIGS. 5-6 with weather barrier material covering the trusses and creating a seal for the housing when the roof is in its closed position.
Referring to FIG. 8, depicted is a top, side view of a housing 800 including swing doors 801/802 that can be attached to vertical support beams 102. Also shown is a rear panel 805 and upper pitch area panel 806 (another would be located at the rear of the housing above the rear panel 805) to complete enclosure of the housing 800. It should be noted that all panels can be constructed from metal, wood, plastics and other materials known in the art. Insulation and other finishes can be provided that are well known the construction art.
Referring to FIG. 9, depicted is a top, side view of a housing 900 including optional rolling barn doors 901/902 for enclosing the housing 100. Rolling barn doors 901/902 would typically roll behind fixed front panels 803/804 as shown. Other doors can be utilized in place of those illustrated, for example roll-up doors typical for use with garages can be utilized for closure of the front of the housing 900.
Referring to FIG. 10, depicted is a bottom view of a portable housing flooring and support structure 1000 including skids 1005 for use when loading the portable housing onto a truck or trailer bed for transport. The flooring and support structure 1000 can include flooring 101 mounted to a support frame 1002 with support frame cross bars 1003 secured (i.e., welded) thereto providing integrity and support for the frame 1002. The skids can be mounted to the support frame 1002 and include skid cross bars 1006 secured (i.e., welded) thereto for providing integrity and support for the skids 1005. Jack pod supports 1004 can also be included at location on the flooring and support structure 1000 where lift supports would be mounted/secured to the flooring and support structure 1000 in order to provide additional strength and integrity to the flooring and support structure 1000 at points where vertical lift support beams 104 would be mounted to the flooring 101 so that it can accommodate loads on the platform 105. Referring to FIG. 11, depicted is a side view of the portable housing flooring illustrated in FIG. 10 illustrating where vertical lift support beams 104 of the lift 112 would be mounted to the flooring 101 at locations of the Jack pod supports 1004.
Referring to FIG. 12, depicted is a side view of the portable housing 1200 being loaded onto a flatbed 1211 of a commercial truck 1210. Loading can be accomplished by pulling the portable building 1220 via a cable 1213 operated by a motor 1212 onto the flatbed 1211. The flatbed is configured with a point 1215 that can slip under the skids 1005 during the operation.
Referring to FIG. 13, depicted is a front view portable housing 1300 being utilized as storage for articles 1311 on a platform 105 as well as a vehicle 1312 stored/parked beneath the platform 104 within the portable housing. This image illustrates that a portable housing can be provided that is more versatile that what is currently being offered for temporary storage of articles (e.g., home furnishings) and vehicles. The portable housing 1300 would be useful in situation where a home must be emptied for renovation.
Certain embodiments and features have been described using a set of numerical upper limits and a set of numerical lower limits. It should be appreciated that ranges from any lower limit to any upper limit are contemplated unless otherwise indicated. Certain lower limits, upper limits, and ranges appear in one or more claims below. All numerical values are “about” or “approximately” the indicated value, and take into account experimental error and variations that would be expected by a person having ordinary skill in the art. As used herein in the claim(s), when used in conjunction with the word “comprising”, the words “a” or “an” mean one or more.
Various terms have been defined above. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined above, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in at least one printed publication or issued patent. Furthermore, all patents, test procedures, and other documents cited in this application are fully incorporated by reference to the extent such disclosure is not inconsistent with this application and for all jurisdictions in which such incorporation is permitted.
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
Patent Application
20240125136
