Modular assembly

A modular assembly structured to assume either a shipping container configuration or a building unit configuration, the modular assembly comprising:

• a central frame which defines a box-shaped shipping container;
• a plurality of frame panels disposable in a substantially closed, interconnected position;
• the plurality of frame panels moveably disposed outwardly from the central frame into an opened position to at least partially define the building unit configuration;
• a plurality of unit panels movably connected to and disposable on the central frame in a closed position aligned with the frame panels being in the closed position;
• and
• the plurality of unit panels movably disposable outwardly from the central frame into fan opened position to further at least partially define the building unit configuration;
• wherein each of the plurality of frame panels includes at least one panel segment movably connected to a corresponding frame panel of the plurality of frame panels and positionable outwardly therefrom to further at least partially define a sidewall potion of the building unit configuration,
• the at least one panel segment is moveably connected at an upper most longitudinal end of the corresponding frame panel, and
• a first plurality of cables connected to the at least one panel segment and configured to displace the at least one panel segment, each of the cables of the first plurality of cables being threaded from the central frame through one of the plurality of unit panels to a distal end of the one of the plurality of unit panels.

A modular assembly structured to assume either a shipping container configuration or a building unit configuration, the modular assembly comprising:

• a central frame which defines a box-shaped shipping container;
• a plurality of frame panels disposable in a substantially closed, interconnected position to at least partially define the shipping container;
• the plurality of frame panels moveably disposed outwardly from the central frame into an opened position to at least partially define the building unit configuration;
• and
• a plurality of unit panels movably connected to and disposable on the central frame in a closed position aligned with the frame panels being in the closed position;
• the plurality of unit panels movably disposable outwardly from the central frame into fan opened position to further at least partially define the building unit configuration;
• wherein the central frame comprises only four support members, and each of the support members includes an extensible column disposed therein,
• each extensible column configured to deploy from within the support members to lift and level the modular assembly, each extensible column being independently adjustable to adapt an extension length according to a terrain,
• wherein, when arranged in the building unit configuration, the modular assembly is supported on the terrain only by the four support members;
• wherein each of the plurality of frame panels includes at least one panel segment movably connected to a corresponding frame panel of the plurality of frame panels and positionable outwardly therefrom to further at least partially define a sidewall potion of the building unit configuration,
• the at least one panel segment is moveably connected at an upper most longitudinal end of the corresponding frame panel, and
• a first plurality of cables connected to the at least one panel segment and configured to displace the at least one panel segment, each of the cables of the first plurality of cables being threaded from the central frame through one of the plurality of unit panels to a distal end of the one of the plurality of unit panels.

A modular assembly structured to assume either a shipping container configuration or a building unit configuration, the modular assembly comprising:

• a central frame which defines a box-shaped shipping container;
• a plurality of frame panels disposable in a substantially closed, interconnected position;
• the plurality of frame panels moveably disposed outwardly from the central frame into an opened position to at least partially define the building unit configuration;
• and
• a plurality of unit panels movably connected to and disposable on the central frame in a closed position aligned with the frame panels being in the closed position;
• the plurality of unit panels movably disposable outwardly from the central frame into fan opened position to further at least partially define the building unit configuration;
• and
• an automated erection system which converts the modular assembly between the shipping container configuration and the building unit configuration, and vice versa, according to an automatic, pre-programmed sequence, the automated erection system including a plurality of motors, a control processing unit coupled to the plurality of motors, and a storage including the pre-programmed sequence,
• wherein the automated erection system is coupled to each of the plurality of frame panels and to each of the plurality of unit panels to change the disposition thereof according to the pre-programmed sequence,
• wherein a first frame panel of the plurality of panels and a first unit panel of the plurality of unit panels, when deployed, form a first cantilevered building unit portion which is cantilevered from the central frame such that first cantilevered building unit portion is supported only on one end by the central frame, and
• a second frame panel of the plurality of panels and a second unit panel of the plurality of unit panels, when deployed, form a second cantilevered building unit portion which is deployed on a side of the central frame opposite to the first cantilevered building portion, and which is cantilevered from the central frame such that the second cantilevered building unit portion is supported only on one end by the central frame;
• wherein each of the plurality of frame panels includes at least one panel segment movably connected to a corresponding frame panel of the plurality of frame panels and positionable outwardly therefrom to further at least partially define a sidewall potion of the building unit configuration,
• the at least one panel segment is moveably connected at an upper most longitudinal end of the corresponding frame panel, and
• the automated erection system includes a first plurality of cables connected to the at least one panel segment and configured to displace the at least one panel segment, each of the cables of the first plurality of cables being threaded from the central frame through one of the plurality of unit panels to a distal end of the one of the plurality of unit panels.

A modular assembly structured to assume either a shipping container configuration or a building unit configuration, the modular assembly comprising:

• a central frame which defines a box-shaped shipping container;
• a plurality of frame panels disposable in a substantially closed, interconnected position;
• the plurality of frame panels moveably disposed outwardly from the central frame into an opened position to at least partially define the building unit configuration;
• and
• a plurality of unit panels movably connected to and disposable on the central frame in a closed position aligned with the frame panels being in the closed position;
• the plurality of unit panels movably disposable outwardly from the central frame into fan opened position to further at least partially define the building unit configuration;
• wherein the central frame comprises a plurality of support members, and each of the support members includes an extensible column disposed therein,
• each extensible column configured to deploy from within the support members to lift and level the modular assembly, each extensible column being independently adjustable to adapt an extension length according to a terrain,
• wherein a first frame panel of the plurality of panels and a first unit panel of the plurality of unit panels, when deployed, form a first cantilevered building unit portion which is cantilevered from the central frame such that first cantilevered building unit portion is supported only on one end by the central frame, and
• a second frame panel of the plurality of panels and a second unit panel of the plurality of unit panels, when deployed, form a second cantilevered building unit portion which is deployed on a side of the central frame opposite to the first cantilevered building portion, and which is cantilevered from the central frame such that the second cantilevered building unit portion is supported only on one end by the central frame;
• wherein each of the plurality of frame panels includes at least one panel segment movably connected to a corresponding frame panel of the plurality of frame panels and positionable outwardly therefrom to further at least partially define a sidewall potion of the building unit configuration,
• the at least one panel segment is moveably connected at an upper most longitudinal end of the corresponding frame panel, and
• a first plurality of cables connected to the at least one panel segment and configured to displace the at least one panel segment, each of the cables of the first plurality of cables being threaded from the central frame through one of the plurality of unit panels to a distal end of the one of the plurality of unit panels.

A modular assembly structured to assume either a shipping container configuration or a building unit configuration, the modular assembly comprising:

• a central frame which defines a box-shaped shipping container;
• a plurality of frame panels disposable in a substantially closed, interconnected position to at least partially define the shipping container;
• the plurality of frame panels moveably disposed outwardly from the frame into an opened position to at least partially define the building unit configuration;
• a plurality of unit panels movably connected to and disposable on the frame in a closed position aligned with the frame panels being in the closed position;
• and
• the plurality of unit panels movably disposable outwardly from the frame into fan opened position to further at least partially define the building unit configuration,
• wherein the central frame comprises a plurality of fixed interconnected columns which form an exterior frame of the modular assembly when the modular assembly is in the shipping container configuration,
• the plurality of fixed interconnected columns of the central frame form a frame of a core structure of the modular assembly when the modular assembly is in the building unit configuration,
• the modular assembly is supported by only four support members which extend from the central frame and elevate the modular assembly from a terrain when the modular assembly is in the building unit configuration, and
• wherein, when arranged in the building unit configuration, the modular assembly is supported on the terrain only by the four support members;
• wherein each of the plurality of frame panels includes at least one panel segment movably connected to a corresponding frame panel of the plurality of frame panels and positionable outwardly therefrom to further at least partially define a sidewall potion of the building unit configuration,
• the at least one panel segment is moveably connected at an upper most longitudinal end of the corresponding frame panel, and
• a first plurality of cables connected to the at least one panel segment and configured to displace the at least one panel segment, each of the cables of the first plurality of cables being threaded from the central frame through one of the plurality of unit panels to a distal end of the one of the plurality of unit panels.