Expandable shelter system

A double side expandable shelter system comprising:

• a main shelter section having a main floor structure with a main floor surface;
• a first side expandable shelter section having (i) a first front wall panel, a first top panel and first side panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other and (ii) a first flooring structure with a first side floor surface provided by a first hinged flooring panel assembly including at least first and second floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
• a second side expandable shelter section having (i) a second front wall panel, a second top panel and second side panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and (ii) a second flooring structure with a second side floor surface provided by a second hinged flooring panel assembly including at least third and fourth floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
• a transport mode in which said first and second side expandable shelter sections are completely nested within said main shelter section;
• and
• a deployment mode in which said first and second side expandable shelter sections are completely protracted from said main shelter section;
• wherein said first hinged flooring panel assembly is folded in a vertical manner when said first side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode;
• wherein said second hinged flooring panel assembly is folded in a vertical manner when said second side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode;
• wherein said first hinged flooring panel assembly can be unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said first side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
• wherein said second hinged flooring panel assembly can be unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said second side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
• wherein said first and second floor panels are hinged together at a point and with the bottom of said front wall panel and to the edge of the floor structure of said main shelter section;
• and
• wherein said main floor surface and said first and second side floor surfaces are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode.

A single-side expandable shelter system comprising:

• a main shelter section having a main floor surface;
• a side expandable shelter section having a flooring structure with a side floor surface provided by a hinged flooring panel assembly including at least first and second floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
• a transport mode in which said side expandable shelter section is completely nested within said main shelter section;
• and
• a deployment mode in which said side expandable shelter section is completely protracted from said main shelter section, and where said main floor surface and said side floor surface are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode;
• wherein said at least first and second floor panels are stacked compactly in a vertical direction when said side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode;
• and
• wherein said at least first and second floor panels are unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
• wherein said side expandable shelter section comprises a front wall panel, a top panel, and first and second side panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and said hinged flooring panel assembly, and
• wherein said at least first and second floor panels are hinged together at a point and with the bottom of said front wall panel and the edge of said floor surface of said main shelter section.

A single-side expandable shelter system comprising:

• a main shelter section having a main floor surface;
• a side expandable shelter section having (i) side and top panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and (ii) a flooring structure with a side floor surface provided by a hinged flooring panel assembly including at least two floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
• a transport mode in which said side expandable shelter section is completely nested within said main shelter section;
• and
• a deployment mode in which said side expandable shelter section is completely protracted from said main shelter section;
• wherein said at least two floor panels are stacked compactly in a vertical direction when said side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode;
• and
• wherein said at least two floor panels are unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
• wherein said main shelter section includes (i) a main floor structure supporting said main floor surface, beneath which a replaceable full-length skid structure is affixed thereto, (ii) a top panel, a front panel with a front door having open and closed configurations, and (iii) first and second side panels interconnected within a framework constructed from a frame member and being fixedly arranged with respect to each other, so as to form a five-sided box container with an open side along its length dimension;
• wherein said main floor surface and said side floor surface are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode.

A single-side expandable shelter system comprising:

• a main shelter section having a main floor section with a main floor surface;
• a side expandable shelter section having (i) side and top panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and (ii) a flooring structure with a side floor surface provided by a hinged flooring panel assembly including at least first and second floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
• a transport mode in which said side expandable shelter section is completely nested within said main shelter section;
• and
• a deployment mode in which said side expandable shelter section is completely protracted from said main shelter section and where said main floor surface and said side floor surface are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode;
• a side expandable section support mechanism for supporting said side expandable shelter section during said deployment mode;
• wherein said at least first and second floor panels are stacked compactly in a vertical direction when said side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode;
• and
• wherein said at least first and second floor panels are unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
• wherein said side expandable section support mechanism includes a pair of hinged horizontally-extending expansion section support members that are hingedly connected at one end to the bottom exterior of said main shelter section, and to their other ends by a pair of diagonally-extending support members connected to the top portion of said main shelter section.

A double side expandable shelter system comprising:

• a main shelter section;
• a first side expandable shelter section having side and top panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and a first flooring structure with a first side floor surface provided by a first hinged flooring panel assembly including at least first and second floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
• a second side expandable shelter section having side and top panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and a second flooring structure with a second side floor surface provided by a second hinged flooring panel assembly including at least second and third floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
• a transport mode in which said side expandable shelter sections are completely nested within said main shelter section;
• and
• a deployment mode in which said side expandable shelter sections are completely protracted from said main shelter section;
• wherein said first hinged flooring panel assembly is folded in a vertical manner when said first side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, as to be completed contained therewithin during said transport mode;
• wherein said second hinged flooring panel assembly is folded in a vertical manner when said second side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner,so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode;
• wherein said first hinged flooring panel assembly can be unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said first side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
• wherein said second hinged flooring panel assembly can be unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said second side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
• and
• wherein said main shelter section has (i) a main floor structure with a main floor surface, beneath which a replaceable full-length skid structure is affixed thereto, (ii) a top panel, a front panel with a front door having open and closed configurations, and (iii) first and second side panels interconnected within a framework constructed from frame member and being fixedly arranged with respect to said top and front panels, so as to form a five-sided box container with an open side along its length dimension;
• and
• wherein said main floor surface and said first and second side floor surfaces are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode.

A single-side expandable shelter system having a transport mode in which a side expandable section is completely nested within a main shelter section, and a deployment mode in which said side expandable section is completely protracted from said main shelter section, said single-side expandable shelter system comprising:

• said side expandable section including side and top panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and
• a side flooring structure with a side floor surface provided by a hinged flooring panel assembly including at least first and second floor panels hinged together for stacking compactly in a vertically elongated direction when said side expandable section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode;
• and
• wherein said main shelter section including (i) a main floor structure having a main floor surface, beneath which a replaceable full-length skid structure is affixed to said main floor structure, (ii) a top panel, a front panel with a front door having open and closed configurations, and (iii) first and second side panels interconnected within a framework constructed from a frame member and fixedly arranged with respect to said top and front panels, so as to form a five-sided box container with an open side along its length dimension;
• and
• wherein said main floor surface and said side floor surface are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode.

A single-side expandable shelter system having a transport mode in which a side expandable section is completely nested within a main shelter section with a main floor surface, and a deployment mode in which said side expandable section is completely protracted from said main shelter section, said single-side expandable shelter system comprising:

• side and top panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other;
• and
• a flooring structure with a side floor surface provided by a hinged flooring panel assembly including at least two floor panels hinged together for stacking compactly in a vertically elongated direction when said side expandable section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode;
• and
• a side expandable section support mechanism for supporting said side expandable section during said deployment mode;
• wherein said side expandable section support mechanism includes a pair of hinged horizontally-extending expansion section support members that are hingedly connected at one end to the bottom exterior of said main shelter section, and to their other ends by a pair of diagonally-extending support members connected to the top portion of said main shelter section;
• and
• wherein said main floor surface and said side floor surface are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode.

A double side expandable shelter system comprising:

• a main shelter section with a main floor surface;
• a first side expandable shelter section having (i) a first front wall panel, a first top panel and first side panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and (ii) a first flooring structure with a first side floor surface provided by a first hinged flooring panel assembly including at least first and second floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
• a second side expandable shelter section having (i) a second front wall panel, a second top panel and second side panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and (ii) a second flooring structure with a second side floor surface provided by a second hinged flooring panel assembly including at least third and fourth floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said second side expandable shelter section;
• a transport mode in which said side expandable shelter sections are completely nested within said main shelter section;
• and
• a deployment mode in which said side expandable shelter sections are completely protracted from said main shelter section;
• wherein said first hinged flooring panel assembly is folded in a vertical manner when said first side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode;
• wherein said second hinged flooring panel assembly is folded in a vertical manner when said second side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be completely contained therewithin during said transport mode;
• wherein said first hinged flooring panel assembly can be unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said first side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
• wherein said second hinged flooring panel assembly can be unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said second side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
• wherein said first and second floor panels are hinged together at a point and with the bottom of said front wall panel and the edge of the main floor structure of said main shelter section and
• wherein said main floor surface and said first and second side floor surfaces are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode.

An expandable shelter system comprising:

• a main shelter section having a floor structure with a main floor surface;
• a side expandable shelter section having a flooring structure with a side floor surface provided by a hinged flooring panel assembly including at least first and second floor panels hinged together and operably connected between said main shelter section and said side expandable shelter section;
• a transport mode in which said side expandable shelter section is substantially nested within said main shelter section;
• and
• a deployment mode in which said side expandable shelter section is substantially protracted from said main shelter section;
• wherein said at least first and second floor panels are stacked compactly in a vertical direction when said side expandable shelter section is retracted within said main shelter section, in a nested manner, so as to be substantially contained therewithin during said transport mode;
• and
• wherein said at least first and second floor panels are unfolded and arranged in a horizontal direction when said side expandable shelter section is protracted from said main shelter section during said deployment mode;
• wherein said side expandable shelter section comprises a front wall panel, a top panel, and first and second side panels fixedly arranged with respect to each other, and said hinged flooring panel assembly;
• wherein said at least first and second floor panels are hinged together at a point and with the bottom of said front wall panel and to the edge of the main floor structure of said main shelter section;
• and
• wherein said main floor surface and said side floor surface are disposed in substantially the same plane during said deployment mode.