US3866365A

US3866365A - Expandable space enclosure including apparatus for erecting and retracting same

Info

Publication number: US3866365A
Application number: US269848A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael L Honigman
Original assignee: Elm Design Inc
Current assignee: Elm Design Inc
Priority date: 1972-07-07
Filing date: 1972-07-07
Publication date: 1975-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-18

Abstract

Expandable structural modules for space enclosures including particular apparatus for effecting and assisting in the expansion or erection and retraction or dismantling of the units for storage or transport. The modular structures generally comprise a box-like enclosure in which the roof, side and end walls and floor are stored in collapsed, folded form. Preferably the case opens out in two directions to form room enclosures on opposite sides of the case. The roof and floor are linked together so that as the floor is lowered, the roof is raised by the same mechanism. A special cable-and-spool arrangement serves to open the folded roof with the outer section thereof unfolding in one direction as the inner section unfolds in the opposite direction. A plurality of guide arrangements are provided to facilitate the opening of the walls of the enclosure while maintaining alignment between the respective walls and wall sections. Balancing of the wall and roof sections is provided by a cable, drum and spring arrangement which stores energy as the floor and roof are opened, and applies an assisting force as the floor is raised and the roof retracted. Various supports and retainers are incorporated in particular modular arrangements adapted for use as cabin trailers, campers and the like which materially assist in the process of erecting the space enclosure and in retracting the same for storage and/or transport.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Honigman 1451 Feb. 18, 1975 211 Appl. NO.I 269,848

699,753 11/1953 Great Britain .1 52/68 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Suitcase Temporary House," May 26, 1944, Class 52/68, Palace Corporation, 4 pages.

Primary ExaminerErnest R, Purser Assistant Examiner-Leslie A. Braun Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Henry M. Bissell [57] ABSTRACT Expandable structural modules for space enclosures including particular apparatus for effecting and assist- 1 1 in the expansion o erection and retraction o dl 52/122, 52/127 mantling of the units for storage or transport. The modular tructures generally comprise a box llke en- [58] Field of Search 52/64 701 71, closure in which the roof, side and end walls and floor 52/111, 113, 116, 122, 127; 296/23-27; 5/5 are stored in collapsed, folded form, Preferably the B1 53 164 166 R19 R, 9 B; 108/37 case opens out in two directions to form room enclol sures on opposite sides of the case. The roof and floor are linked together so that as the floor is lowered, the l l References Clted roof is raised by the same mechanism. A special cable- UNITED STATES PATENTS and-spool arrangement serves to open the folded roof 1,058,580 4/1913 111111 5/164 D x W the Outer $66909 thereof M in P i 2,167 557 7/1939 Smu 52/ 9 tion as the inner section unfolds in the oppos1te dlrec- 2,395,691 2/1946 Smith v 52/69 tion. A plurality of guide arrangements are provided 21 3 1 62 53 Graven r 5 /69 to facilitate the opening of the walls of the enclosure 2,886,856 5/1959 Suk Kun Che 1 52/69 while maintaining alignment between the respective walls and wall sections. Balancing of the wall and roof I1 CI'SOI'ICR... H 311711.850 1/1963 MCClUfC 52/122 x *f 'fi i li l fig:1 illflllll alil fll lefi 5257.761) 6/1966 01111161 561 52/71 x l f Y .f' f "f b i" f f 3348344 10/1967 qmcvossmn H 52/69 X are opened, and appl es an assisting force as the floor 352L926 7/1970 Brew, cl H 52/66 X is raised and the root retracted. arlous supports and 3528207 9/1971) H V/ 53/70 X retainers are incorporated in particular modular ar 3,629.982 12/1971 Ballay ct al. 52/69 rangements adapted for use as cabin trailers. campers 3,66 18 6/19 2 C rt 52/ X and the like which-materially assist in the process o1 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS erectirfig tltie space dt/encltosurve alld in retracting the 215,582 7/1957 Australia 52/64 Same or 5 ("age an or rmspor 932.458 3/1948 France 296/23 F 37 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures 1O 5O 2o 3O 40 1 4o 42 l B l 42 6 9) PAIEMEU 3.866.365

' SHEEI 3m 4 ALA PATENTED FEB] BIBTS SHEET 0F 4 EXPANDABLE SPACE ENCLOSURE INCLUDING APPARATUS FOR ERECTING AND RETRACTING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to expandable space enclosures, and more particularly to specific structures designed for such purpose which incorporate apparatus for effecting and easing the erection and retraction of the expandable space enclosures.

2. Description of the Prior Art In recent years the use of campers and trailers has become more widespread. In particular, there is an increasing demand for such campers or trailers which are large enough to accommodate and provide spacious living quarters for entire families. On the other hand, the use of very large campers or even of large trailers is restricted due to their large size and considerable weight which make it hard to move or pull them over narrow or winding roads. They are a hazard during high winds, when moving over mountain roads or even open country. Moreover, they are principally used as recreational vehicles and, if large enough to provide spacious quarters, present a considerable problem when the units are to be stored on a residential lot.

In addition to the need for recreation vehicles providing a greater ratio of erected to transport volume, there is also a continuing and increasing need for space, enclosing structures which can be stored and transported in compact form but which can be expanded and erected to provide multi-room enclosures for classrooms, offices, housing and the like on a temporary or semi-permanent basis. Such units are particularly needed by the military in combat and field maneuver situations as well as in disaster relief and urban renewal programs, where they can be air lifted to a location where they areneeded and then easily erected on the site with a minimum of time and manpower involved.

Many attempts at solving the needs described above have been made but efforts are still going on to develop the most suitable arrangement for this purpose. The provision of structural panels capable of withstanding the elements and the normal forces of nature necessarily increases the weight of any given structural arrangement. However, with increased weight, the entire structure is likely to become more difficult to erect and assemble or to dismantle and store. In order to handle increased weight, there is a tendency to design power units such as motors, pumps, hydraulic systems and the like to handle the heavier erection jobs which result from the increased weight and particular structural designs. Yet, such an approach defeats the initial purpose, because it then becomes necessary to provide the electrical or other power needed by these units in order to perform the required operations.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide particular expandable space enclosures which incorporate apparatus for erecting and dismantling same without resort to power equipment.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide simplified apparatus for assisting in and assuring the maintenance of appropriate alignment between various sections of a given enclosure during erection of the structure.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide apparatus which is adapted for inclusion in and operationvwith a type of expandable space enclosure in which the roof, walls and floor are all stored in folded and stacked juxtaposition within a compact, relatively flat storage unit which may be used on a portable vehicle such as a camper or trailer on the one hand or alternatively may be used to erect a complete space enclo sure having several times the enclosed volume as compared with the volume of the storage unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In brief, arrangements in accordance with the present invention comprise expandable modular space enclosures in which roof, wall and floor panels are folded together for compact storage in a single box unit, which box may be stored or transported in the horizontal attitude but is adapted to be oriented vertically on edge for the unfolding and opening out of the various panels which comprise the space enclosure.

The invention will be described generally in the context of an expandable trailer unit. I-Iowever, features of the present invention are equally adaptable to pick-up and chassis-mounted camper units, transportable nonvehicle units, and the like.

Arrangements in accordance with the invention may comprise a box unit which is stored in a horizontal attitude as the top closure of a modular body unit. When the unit is to be set up for use, the box is slidable relative to the body to a pivot point adjacent one end thereof and rotated to an upright or vertical attitude at the end of the body unit where it is supported at pivot points on a pair of cantilevered support members and locked in such position by means of cam-locking arrangements mounted in the trailer body. Thereafter, the floor section of the expandable room unit (formerly the top cover of the box when in the horizontal position) is rotatably lowered into position. This floor is pivotably attached to the box at the bottom thereof and, when lowered into position, is supported on retractable, adjustable jack members which make contact with the ground for the desired support of the floor. The roofs of both the front and rear rooms are split transversely at approximately their mid points and the twosections of each roof are hinged at their juncture so that in the stored position they are maintained in a folded configuration within the box unit. The roofs are linked to the floor so that as the floor is lowered the roof sections are extended and raised. The end walls of the front and rear rooms, each connected to its respective set of folded sidewall panels, may then be moved outwardly from the box unit, being supported on rollers at the base and guided by a suitable control cable mechanism so as to complete the erection of the structure when fully extended from the box unit. In this fashion, a vehicle such as a trailer 8 feet wide, 10 feet long and having a maximum height above the ground of approximately 5 feet with a weight suitable for transporting on a single axle and one pair of wheels may be expanded to a living unit some 20 feet long with full 7% feet or more interior height, complete with built-in toilet, sink, refrigerator, stove, water storage and all the furniture required to equip the two rooms which are thus provided.

In accordance with various aspects of the invention, the arrangement is provided with particular cable and drum mechanisms for extending and retracting the floor and roof sections in unison. The weight forces of the cantilevered panels are balanced with respect to each other and further compensated for by a torsion spring mechanism attached to certain of the cable drums which control the floor lifting mechanism so that a minimum of effort is required for the erection and retraction process. Precise and adjustable alignment of the end walls, which are supported on wheeled casters, is maintained by virtue of separate intersecting cable mechanisms which serve to follow the travel of the end walls between retracted and extended positions and permit movement in this fashion by control from either end of the end walls with a minimum of effort. Slides and hinges are incorporated with the end walls and side wall panels in order to provide smooth, easy movement while maintaining a firm spatial interrelationship and alignment between the respective wall components. These hinges also serve effectively as weatherproof seals to seal the joints between the respective panels. Effective locking members are also provided which readily lock respective components of the expandable structure together so that the entire unit, when erected, provides a rigid and effective integral structure. Such locking mechanisms are also provided for securing the panel storage box in place on the lower body unit of the expandable module when the unit is in compact storage position for transport. In addition, ingenious mechanisms are provided for supporting the various panels stored in the slidable box unit in a fashion which holds them away from the adjacent surfaces of the body unit in order to minimize the friction involved in sliding the box unit between its closed and pivotable positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A better understanding of the present invention may be had from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which: 9

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of an improved modular unit in accordance with the invention, shown mounted for conventional trailer transport;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the unit of FIG. 1 partially erected;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a further stage of the erection procedure, the view being taken from the opposite side relative to FIGS. 1 and 2 in order to show further details;

FIG. 4 is a view of a portion of the arrangement of FIG. 1 illustrating a particular mechanism for effecting the extension of the roof and floor sections in the step illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a portion of FIG. 2, showing particular details thereof;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another arrangement in accordance with the invention provided as an alternative to the arrangement of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the arrangement of FIGS. 1-3, showing details ofa particular alignment mechanism thereof;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, taken along the line 10-10, of the portion as shown in FIG. 9, except with the upper part of the FIG. 9 portion rotated to the horizontal position;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a portion of the arrangement of FIGS. 1-3, showing details of another particular alignment mechanism thereof;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of still another arrangement in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view of another portion of the arrangement of FIGS. 1-3, showing further details thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS is shown a modular unit 10 comprising a base unit 12 and top unit 14. The base unit or body 12 is shown with a lower portion 16 extending the full length of the unit and an upraised portion 18 at the front end. The body is mounted on a chassis (not shown) supported on wheels 19 and having a trailer tongue and hitch (also not shown) extending from the front end (the left-hand end in FIGS. 1 and 2). The top unit 14 includes a box 20 and a floor section 22 which, in the position shown in FIG. 1, serves as a top closure for the box 20. The top unit is pivotably mounted on cantilever members 24 at pivot points 26 on opposite sides of the top unit 14 which are located at approximately the center of FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another portion of the arrangement of FIGS. l-3,'showing details of the side wall slide juncture to the end wall thereof;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of still another portion of FIGS. l-3, showing details of retainer and support members thereof;

gravity thereof. Also seen in a broken away portion of FIG. 1 is a roller 28 which provides additional support for the top unit 14 as it is moved backward or forward on the body 12. The cantilever members 24 are mounted in longitudinal channels for easy movement back and forth betweenthe position shown in FIG. 1 and that shown in FIG. 2 wherein the box 20 is rotated to a vertical attitude to permit expansion of the unit to its full space enclosure. The box 20 stores the various folded and retracted panels which comprise the rigid space enclosure module when extended. The panels comprise roof sections 30, end walls 32 and side walls 34 in addition to the floor 22 already mentioned. The side walls 34 comprise folding panels designated outboard panels 36, intermediate panels 37, and inboard panels 38. More or fewer side wall panels may be used to accommodate different dimensions of the side walls 34.

FIG. 2 illustrates the unit 10 with the floor 22 partially lowered and the roof sections 30 partially raised. It will be noted that each roof section 30 comprises an inboard roof panel 40 and an outboard roof panel 42. The

roof panels

40 and 42 are joined to each other by means of a flexible plastic hinge. 44, which is both durable and effective for this purpose and also serves to provide a weathertight seal across the juncture between the two panels. A similar hinge, designated 46, is provided at the juncture between the panel 40 and the box '20. Further details of the mechanism for expanding the floor and roof panels will be discussed in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5 hereinbelow.

FIG. 3 illustrates the unit with the floor down, the roof sections raised, and end walls 32 and side walls 34 in the process of being extended and expanded toward the full enclosure position. Plastic hinges 48, of the type already described, are provided to join adjacent pairs of side wall panels to each other and to join the panels 38 to the box 20. Water-tight seals are provided at all junctures of adjacent panels, either by means of the plastic continuous hinge strips 44, 46 and 48, or by means of compression seals at junctures between the end walls 32 and the ends of the roof sections 30, the upper body portion 18, the lower body portion 16, and the like.

It will be understood that the lower body portion 16 is intended as the kitchen and eating area of the expanded module and thus contains the various appropriate built-in appliances such as a double sink, a refrigerator, a dishwasher, garbage disposal unit and the like, as well as housing a bathroom with self-contained toilet and shower facilities, both fresh and waste water tanks,

pumps and the like to make the complete module wholly self-sufficient where necessary.

Suitable retractable floor jacks 50 are shown in position in FIG. 3 to support the floor 22 in its lowered position. These floor jacks 50 are adjustable to permit levelling of the floor 22 on uneven or slanting terrain.

In addition to the structure as thus far described, the unit 10 of FIGS. l-3 is shown with detachable storage boxes 52 and wheel well panels 54. These are designed for addition in the event of a trailer or chassis-mounted unit, such as is shown in these figures, and for removal to provide a basic module which is adapted to fit within the space in a pickup truck box in a fashion corresponding to conventional camper utilization.

At each point at which one panel or sub-unit is to be mounted against another panel or sub-unit for rigid support, a suitable locking mechanism is provided. Such a locking mechanism may comprise a unit referred to as a cam-lock, of the general type conventionally employed for the final closing and locking of casement windows, for example. Thus, one or more camlocks are provided for securing the lower portion of the box to the rear end of the body 14 in the attitude shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Similar cam-locks may be provided for securing the end walls 32 to the

roof panels

40, 42 and the floor 22, once the end walls are in the fully extended position, as well as being provided to affix the top unit 14 to the body unit 12 when the unit 10 is fully retracted in readiness for transport.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate details of a preferred mechanism by which the floor and roof sections, pivotably mounted to the box 20 at

points

56 and 58, respectively may be extended, supported, and retracted. FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the floor 22 as viewed from the underside with the outermost covering removed. In the view of FIG. 4 there is shown a force compensating mechanism 60 mounted transversely across the lower edge of the floor 22 by means of bearings (not shown in detail) in the sides of the floor 22 and in a bracket 62, affixed to the end panel 64 of the floor 22. The mechanism 60 comprises a torsion spring 66 affixed at its right-hand end to the bracket 62 and at its left-hand end to a shaft 68 by means ofa locking collar 70 having locking bolts 72 for securing the collar 70 to the shaft 68. At opposite ends of the shaft 68 are a pair of cable drums 74, also affixed for rotation with the shaft 68 by means oflocking collars 76. Separate cables 78 are shown wound around the drums 74. A crank 80 extends from the righthand end of the shaft 68 for controlling the rotation and position thereof. A locking plate 82 and a locking pin 84 are included for locking the shaft 68 at a preferred position by inserting the pin 84 through selected holes (not shown) in the plate and end of the drum 74.

Referring to FIG. 5, it will be observed that the cables 78 extend outwardly within a hollow section of the floor 22 from the drums 74, pass around respective pulleys and then to an anchor point 92 near the top of the box 20. The arrangement as thus described in FIGS.

4 and 5 serves to compensate for the force developed by the weight of the floor 22 as it is raised and lowered so as to permit a relatively slight force applied to the crank 80 to move the floor 22 in either direction. With the floor 22 in vertical position against the box 20, the cables 78 are wound to the maximum extent around the cable drums 74. At this point the locking collar 70 of the torsion spring 66 will have been secured to the shaft 68 in accordance with specifications provided by the manufacturer of the spring 66 according to the dimensions and characteristics of the spring 66. This is the position of minimum torque applied by the spring 66 to the shaft 68. As the floor 22 is rotated outwardly to assume its lowered position, the cables 78 unwind from the cable drums 74, causing the shaft 68 to rotate and drive stored torque into the torsion spring 66. The crank 80 may be employed in this operation if desired or needed, although with the entire mechanism properly balanced it is literally possible to raise or lower the entire assembly, including the floor and roof panels, by fingertip pressure. For raising the floor 22, the torsion spring 66 applies a force counterbalancing the force of gravity from the weight of'the floor 22, thus winding the cables 78 on the drums 74 until the floor 22 assumes the upright position against the box 20.

It will be noted that the floor 22 also has a pair of cables 94 anchored thereto by means of brackets 96 and adjustable turnbuckle devices 98. These cables 94 pass over pulleys 100 rotatably secured to the box 20 and connect with respective U-shaped tension members 102 which in turn are pivotably mounted to the inboard ends of respective roof panels 40. This causes the roof panels 40 to rotate outwardly as the floor 22 is lowered.

An additional cable assembly will be noted in FIG. 5 involving cables which are fastened at one end 112 to the box 20 and which are secured at the opposite end at points 114 to the respective outer roof panels 42. Each cable 110 passes over a first spool 116 and around a second spool 118. The first spool 116 is affixed to the box 20 concentrically with the pivot support 58 of the roof panels 40 and remains stationary as the inboard roof panel 40 rotates. The second spool 118 is located at the pivot support (hinge 44) for the outboard roof panel 42 and is affixed for rotation with the panel 42. The radius of the first spool 116 is twice the radius of the second spool 118. This arrangement permits the panel 42 to undergoa rotation of l80 in one direction relative to its support member (the beam 120) while the support beam 120 and inboard roof panel 40 rotate through 90 in the opposite direction between fully opened and fully closed or folded positions within the box 20. Relative to the box 20, however, the

separate roof panels

40, 42 each rotate through 9 but in opposite directions relative to each other. The spool 116 is fixed to the box and the spool 118 does not rotate freely but is constrained by attachment to the panel 42. Thus the cable does not slide on the

spools

116, 118. Rather, the cable 110 merely shifts its points of entry and exit on the

respective spools

116 and 118 as the mechanism moves between its extended and storage positions. By virtue of this arrangement, the raising/lowering mechanism involving the cables 94 connected to the floor 22, and the cable 78 and drum 74 mechanism. the roof 30 and floor -22 move in unison, with the weight of the floor 22 as it is lowered serving to elevate and unfold the roof sections 30 and maintain them in a fixed, cantileversupported position. When the unit is to be folded up, the weight of the roof sections 30 and the torque stored in the torsion spring mechanism 60, applied via the cable and drum mechanism of FIG. 4, assist in raising the floor 22 while the hinged

roof panels

40, 42 fold together for storage in the box 20.

As may be seen in FIG. 4, the floor section 22 is provided with compartments for the storage of bedding and various items of collapsible furniture in knockdown form. Access to these compartments 130 from the room formed by the expanded structure is afforded by various removable covers 132 (FIGS. 2, 3).

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative arrangement for interconnecting the roof and floor sections which may be employed in place of the cable and drum arrangement of FIG. 5. FIG. 6 illustrates a pair of rigid struts linking the floor 22 and the inboard roof panels 40. The struts 150 are pivotably connected to the corresponding floor and roof sections at opposite ends l52 and 154, respectively. Desirable adjustment ofthe effective length of the strut or linkage members 150 is afforded by means of adjustable cam members 156 which are mounted on brackets 158 secured to the floor 22. By adjustment of the eccentric cam members 156, the position of the roof 30 relative to the floor 22 may be adjusted so that the respective sections are aligned and true in the fully extended position. A controllable relief, pressure cylinder 160 is also coupled between the box 20 and the floor 22 via a cable 162 and bracket 164. The cylinder 160 may preferably comprise a pneumatic cylinder and enclosed piston arrangement with a spring incorporated therein, similar to conventional 'door closing mechanisms which are well known in the art. The purpose of this mechanism is to limit the rate at which the floor 22 opens to its extended position under the force of gravity so that it does not slam down too fast. It will be noted that the arrangement of FIG. 6 does not incorporate the torsion spring and cable support arrangement shown and described in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates particular details of a portion of the arrangement of FIGS. 1-3, and may be considered generally conforming to the section in FIG. 3 designated by the letter A in the lower left-hand corner of FIG. 3. A corresponding mechanism with further details is also illustrated in FIG. 11. FIG. 7 illustrates fragmentary portions of the box 20, the floor 22, the end wall 32 and adjacent outboard side wall panel 36 to which various components of a cable alignment mechanism are connected. Mechanism 170 is shown comprising a first cable 172 and a second cable 174. Also shown are an anchor block 176 attached to the floor 22 at an outer corner thereof, a bracket 178 secured to the outer corner of the end wall 32 for supporting

pulleys

180 and 182, and a spring 184 tied to a second anchor block 186 fastened within the box 20. It will be understood that corresponding components are' mounted on the opposite side of the structure of FIG. 3 to complete the alignment mechanism 170. Cable 172 is secured at one end thereof to the anchor block 176 and from there extends around the lower pulley 180 and across the extent of end wall 32 to members on the opposite side which are shown in FIG. 7 as being provided for the cable 174. Conversely, cable 174 is anchored on the opposite side to an anchor block corresponding to the block 176, passes around a pulley such as upper pulley 180 on the opposite side and then is threaded as shown in FIG. 7'behind the upper pulley 180, around in front of pulley 182, and then back to connect with the spring 184.

In operation, the alignment system 170 serves to guide the end wall 32 as it moves back and forth, toward or away from the box 120, on caster-type wheels such as the wheels 190 which are mounted at opposite ends of the wall 32 and which provide as the sole support thereof while the end wall 32 is being moved in or out of position. Alignment mechanism 170 serves to maintain the wall 32 perpendicular to its direction of travel regardless of where the force urging its movement is applied. Even if the force is applied directly upon the corner where the bracket 178 is located,

cables

172 and 174 serve to transmit part of the force across to the opposite end of the wall 32 so that the wall moves without binding'or jamming. The

cables

172, 174 are adjacent the lower edge of the wall 32 and move in and out therewith so that they are never in the way of anyone walking about on the floor 22, whether the end wall 32 is at its outer position or retracted into the box 22 or at any position in between. They are protected by the raised threshold at the doorway in the end wall 32 so that there is no danger of anyone tripping over the

cables

172, 174. By virtue of the use of the mechanism 170 as described, it becomes unnecessary to provide any arrangement for supporting the end wall 32 and side walls 34 from any overhead position, as along the roof 30.

FIG. 8 is a view from the inside of the room on the left-hand side of the structure as shown in FIG. 3, looking toward the end wall 32 as it is moving outwardly and with the roof removed. It will be understood that a corresponding structural arrangement is provided at the opposite end of the unit 10 of FIG. 3 for the end wall on that side over the body unit 12. As shown in FIG. 8,

side wall panels

36, 37 and 38 are interconnected by suitable plastic hinges 198 extending the full height of the respective side wall panels to permit the panels to fold against each other or extend to the full length of the opened side wall while providing an effective seal against weather. FIG. 8 also shows a slide assembly 200 pivotably mounted at the upper corner of the outboard side wall panel 36 and slidably securing the panel 36 to the end wall 32. Another such slide assembly-200 (not shown) is included at the bottom corner of the panel 36. The assembly 200 comprises a slide 202 which is pivotably fastened to the panel 36 and has upper and lower curved projections 204 which extend part way around the edges of and behind a bar 206 spaced outwardly from but fastened to the end wall 32 by means of suitable fasteners such as screws 208. The bar 206 is preferably of metal; the slide 202 may be of metal with suitable bearing surfaces or it may also be made-of a self lubricating plastic material such as Delryn, Teflon, or the like. As the end wall 32 moves outward, the slide 202 moves transversely along the bar 206, permitting the panel 36 to follow the end wall 32 by virtue of the pivotable connection of the slide 202 to the panel 36. Thus, as the end wall 32 moves outward, the side wall comprising the

panels

36, 37 and 38, unfolds until it is fully extended with the slide mechanism 200 at the extreme righthand end of the bar 206. In this position, the panel 36 bears against a compressible seal member 210, thus providing the desired seal against weather at the juncture of the side and end walls. When the end wall 32 is being retracted for storage inside the box 20, the slide assembly 200 moves inward toward the center of the bar 206 and permits the

side wall panels

36, 37 and 38 to fold together. Although the box 20 is not shown in FIG. 8, it will be understood that the nearest edge of the inboard panel 38 is connected thereto via its plastic hinge 198. I

FIG. 9 shows a portionof the arrangements of FIGS. 1-3, with particular attention given to details of the portion designated by the letter 8" in FIG. 2. The principal elements shown in this figure and in FIG. 10, which is a section taken along the line I10 of FIG. 9, are included to provide support for various ones of the panels stored within the box 20 in the lower portion thereof when the box is rotated into the horizontal position for sliding over the body portion 12.

FIG. 9 shows a portion of the box 20 with panels stored therein, except that the roof panels are removed therefrom in order that the details of some-of the retaining members may be better illustrated, whereas FIG. 10 shows the roof panels in position. In FIG. 9, an end wall 32 with supporting caster wheels 190 is shown within the box 20. A retractable retaining member 220, fastened to the counter 222 by means of retainers 224, is shown bearing against the lip of the end wall 32 and extending via a rod 226 to a pivot lever 228 mounted in an arcuate slot 230 at the inboard end of the counter adjacent the center of the unit at a point where a doorway is provided between the kitchen portion and the living room/bedroon portion of the unit 10 (FIG. 2). The member 220 may be retracted by means of the lever 228 when the end wall 32 and associated side walls are to be extended over the lower body portion 16 and. conversely, may be raised into position for supporting the end walls 32 when the storage box 20 is to be pivoted into horizontal position for transport.

A second retaining member 240, secured for pivotable movement on a rod 242 supported bybrackets 244, is shown in FIGS. 9 andl0 as included for supporting the inboard roof panel 40 when in the horizontalposition as retracted for storage in transport. The inboard roof panel 40 is provided with a side beam 120 which has a lip that bears against the support end of the member 240 when in the attitude shown in FIG. 10. A lever 246 attached to the lower end of the rod 242 extends outwardly through an arcuate slot 248 in the panels of the box 20 to permit the member 240 to be retracted away from contact with the beam 120 when the roof section 40 is to be extended for setting up the expandable module 10.

Further support is provided by the Z-shaped member 250 which extends through the cantilever member 24 and supports the outer roof panel 42 when the latter is in the horizontal position for storage within the box 20 on top of the body unit 12. Through the use of the various support and retaining

members

220, 240 and 250, the respective roof panels 40 and'42, the end wall 32 and the respective

side wall panels

36, 37 and 38 are supported in place and held away from any contact with the side rail 254 and any other surfaces or projections attached to the body unit 12. By virtue of this arrangement the top unit 14 with the various roof and wall panels stored therein is permitted to slide easily between its position of storage atop the body unit 12 and the rearward position thereon where it is pivoted between horizontal and vertical attitudes. Thus the only friction engendered by the movement of the box 20 along the body unit 12 is the rolling friction of the wheels256 of the cantilever member 24 within a channel 258 which support the cantilever member 24 as it rides back and forth between the ends of the channel 258. Otherwise, were the various panels in the box 20 not supported in this fashion, the weight thereof would cause the roof panel 42 to drag on the body unit 12 and make it extremely difficult to move the top unit 14 as required.

FIG. 11 shows a portion of the unit 10 as represented in FIG. 3 and illustrates particular details of an alignment system 170a generally corresponding to the system 170 of FIG. 7 but having a further element thereon to keep the cables out of the way when the top unit 14 is moved forward on the body unit 12 for transport. In FIG. 11, elements corresponding to the mechanism shown in FIG. 7 are given corresponding reference numerals followed by the letter 0. Thus, the mechanism 170a is shown including an anchor block 186a, secured to the box 20, a spring 184a fastened to the anchor block 186a, and

cables

172a and 174a which extend along the opposite sides of the body unit 12 and across on the far side of the end wall 32 between pulley and bracket elements (not shown) as are designated 178, I and 182 in FIG. 7. However, at the position adjacent the upper portion 18 of the body unit 12, instead of an anchor block such as 176 of FIG. 7, a retracting means in the form of a constant torque retracting reel wheel 260 (of a type known in the art) is provided. Also included is an additional pulley 262.

With the box 20 in the position shown in FIG. 11, the system a acts in manner described in connection with FIG. 7. The reel 260 is fixed in position by virtue of the tension of the

cables

172a, 174a and thus the cable 260 and the pulley 262 serve as the anchor points (corresponding to the anchor blocks 176 of FIG. 7) of the system 170a. Thus the end wall 32 with attached side wall panels may be effectively maintained in alignment while it is moved back and forth on its caster wheels 190. However, when the box 20 is rotated to the horizontal position with the various wall and roof panels stored therein and is rolled forwardly to assume the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the tension of the

cables

172a, 174a is released and the retracting reel 260, biased by its constant torque sp ing drive associated therewith, serves to reel in any slack in the

cables

172a, 174a so they do not become tangled. Similarly the retracting reel 260 reels out the necessary length of the

cables

172a, 174a, when the top unit 14 is slid rearwardly on the body unit 12 in preparation for erection of the expandable module 10.

FIG. 12 illustrates another arrangement in accordance with the present invention which is designed, not for wheeled transport as a camper or trailer, but instead for compact storage as a complete modular unit which may be easily erected at a selected site by one man to provide a complete modular space enclosure which is rigid, weather-tight and semipermanent.

FIG. 12 depicts the modular unit 300 which is basically comparable to the top unit 14 of FIG. 1 but with two

floor sections

302 and 304 provided to enclose the opposite open sides of the box 306. In this configuration, the unit 300 is provided with a pair of torsion spring/cable and drum mechanisms similar to that shown in FIG. 4. One operates in the fashion already described in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5 for the lowering of the floor 302 and the raising of the associated roof sections (see FIG. 5). However, the additional torsion mechanism represented in FIG. 12 is provided in order to raise the box 306 to the vertical or upright attitude prior to further expansion of the unit 300. This latter mechanism is shown comprising a drum 310 about which a cable 312 is wound with afew turns and arranged to exit from opposite sides of the drum 310. Within a side compartment of the floor section 304 is a compression spring 314 anchored at one end to a fixed bracket 316 and at the other end to a slidable bracket 318. It will be understood that comparable mechanisms are mounted at both sides of the floor section 304 and coupled together by the shaft 320. The cable 312 is secured at one end to the slidable bracket 318 and runs through the center of the compression spring 314, around the drum 310, thence upward and around a pair of

pulleys

322 and 324 which are pivotably mounted at the side of the box 306. Finally, the cable 312 extends and is secured at its outer end to a pivot point 326 which is the hinge between two

sections

330 and 332 of a compression member 334 extending between the floor 304 and the box 306. The member 334 is pivotably mounted at opposite ends, respectively, to the box 306 at pivot anchor 340 and to a second pivot anchor 342 on the slidable bracket 318.

As the drum 310 and shaft 320 are turned by means of the attached crank 345, the cable 312 may be driven to pay out on the lower end, thus releasing the compressed spring 314 and sliding the bracket 318 outwardly to slide and rotate the section 332 while at the same time drawing in on the opposite and anchored to the hinge pivot 326. Operation in this fashion forces the compression member 334 to unfold, thus developing relative rotation between the box 306 and the floor 304. The compression spring 314 and the torsion spring on the shaft 320 (see FIG. 4) effectively provide compensation and balancing of forces with respect to the weight of the box 306 with the stored structural panels therein, and the compression spring 314 further develops the force needed to cause the opening of the compression member 334 which rotates the box 306 to the upright position.

Thus, the unit 300 as shown in FIG. 12 provides an entirely self-contained unit which may be stored compactly or erected by a single man to develop a space enclosure of approximately 8 feet in width, 18 feet in length and 8 feet in interior height from a storage case which is approximately 8 X 9 X 2%. The total weight is approximately 400 lbs. depending on how much collapsible furniture and other equipment is storedin the 6 inch hollow floor sections.

FIG. 13 illustrates details of yet another portion of the arrangement of FIGS. 1-3, and is a sectional elevation of the portion at the juncture between the lower body 16 and the box 20 of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 13, the body portion 16 includes a pocket 350 in which there is mounted a support plate 352. Such an arrangement is included on each side of the lower body portion 16 to facilitate attachment of thebox 20 thereto when in the upright attitude shown in FIG. 2. The support plate 352 is mounted on a threaded support 354 adjustably engaged in a support mount 356 attached to the body portion 16. A hinge plate 358 is attached to a hinge bracket 360 by means of pivot member 361 within a recess 362 of the box 20. The bracket 360 is adjustably secured to the box 20 by means of bracket mounts 364 which permit vertical adjustment of the position of the hinge plate 358 and hinge bracket 360. As may best be seen in the broken line portion of FIG. 13, which illustrates the box 20 and attached members in the positions as they appear prior to engagement with the lower body portion 16, a spring means 366 in the form of a resilient foam pad is provided to hold the hinge plate 358 angled outwardly from its pivot 361 unless it is forced against the spring 366 into the position shown in solid outline form in FIG. 13. The support plate 352 is shaped with a lip 368. As the box 20 pivots into position adjacent the lower body portion 16, the hinge-plate 358 at its lower end engages the lip 368 of the support plate 352 and thereby forces the box 20 slightly upward. This serves to remove the weight of the box 20 and its enclosed folded structural panels from its suspension mechanism, such as the cantilever members 24 and associated track on which they are mounted. The arrangement of FIG. 13 also advantageously serves to insure that the box 20 is properly aligned at the desired position with respect to the body portion 16 each time that the unit is being set up. Thus,

the arrangement of FIG. 13 serves both as an indexing arrangement for alignment of the box 20 with the body portion 16 and as a support mechanism for relieving the stresses on the box suspension members when the unit is set up in its expanded configuration.

There have thus been shown and described particular details of various suspension and alignment arrangements in accordance with the present invention which constitute an improved structural arrangement thereof. These various arrangements serve to enhance the effective operation and utilization of the expandable space module of theinvention such that an effective and commercially feasible unit results.

Although there have been described above specific arrangements of expandable space enclosure including apparatus for erecting and retracting same in accordance with the invention for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. Accordingly, any and all modifications,

variations, or equivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art should be considered to be within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for erecting and retracting an expandable space enclosure comprising:

a box for storing folded roof and wall panels therein and having at least one open side which is covered in the storage condition by a floor section pivotably connected to the box, the roof panels comprising a pair of panels hinged together as a roof section for folded storage within the box, the inner panel being pivotably mounted to said box and having cantilevered erecting means adapted to rotate the roof section about the pivot support and maintain said section in unfolded horizontal position upon erection;

cable means for supporting and aligning said panels during movement of the panels between expanded and folded positions relative to the box;

at least one of said wall panels comprising an end wall movable translationally between parallel expanded and storage positions while maintained aligned in a fixed attitude during said movement by said cable means;

releasable means for maintaining said box in an upright attitude for the unfolding of the panels therefrom in order to provide an expanded space enclosure and for the retraction of said panels for storage within the box; and

a control mechanism for unfolding the two roof panels relative to each other while the entire roof section is being rotated to the horizontal position rela tive to the box.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mechanism comprises a first spool mounted at the pivot mount of the roof section; a second spool mounted at the hinge juncture of the two roof panels; and a cable fastened to the box at one end, extending over the first spool and around the second spool, and fastened to the outer roof panel at the opposite end.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the first spool is twice the diameter of the second spool to develop a rotation of the outer panel which istwice the angle of rotation ofthe inner panel between folded and erected positions.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein the first spool is fixedly mounted to the box; wherein the second spool is fixedly mounted to the outer panel for rotation therewith; and wherein the outer panel rotates through approximately 180 and the inner panel rotates through approximately 90 with the directions of rotation of the two panels being opposite to each other.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the erecting means includes coupling means'extending between the roof section and the floor section so that the weight of the floor is utilized in erecting the roof section.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said coupling means comprises cable means extending between the floor and a lever portion of the roof section, and means for adjusting the effective length of the cable means.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein the coupling means comprises rigid strut means extending between the floor and roof sections, and means for adjusting the effective length of the strut means.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 further including means for controlling the rate of opening of the floor section, including a cylinder and cable extending between the floor section and the box.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein two respective roof sections are mounted for rotation to open position on opposite sides of the box, both of said sections being pivotably mounted to the box in like fashion, and wherein the coupling means includes separate coupling means extending between the floor section and respective ones of the two roof sections, whereby both of the roof sections are erected on opposite sides of the box by the opening of the floor section on one side of the box.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 further including force balancing means for counterbalancing the weight of the floor section during its rotation between open and closed positions relative to the box.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein the force balancing means comprises a shaft extending transversely of the floor section and mounted thereto for rotation about its longitudinal axis, at least one cable drum fastened to said shaft for rotation therewith, a cable extending from said drum to an anchor point on the box, and torsion spring means mounted to counter the rotation of the shaft as the cable is paid out from the drum.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein the spring is coaxially positioned about the shaft and further including means for mounting the other end of said spring to the floor section and means for mounting the other end of said spring to the shaft.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 comprising first and second cable drums respectively mounted near the ends of the shaft at opposite sides of the floor section adjacent the points where the floor section is pivotably mounted to the box, the cables from the two drums extending outwardly along the floor sections to respective pulleys mounted to the floor section outboard of the shaft and then upwardly to respective anchor points mounted near the upper end of the box.

14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 further including a detachable hand crank mounted to drive said shaft for rotation in either direction.

15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 further including an indexing pin insertable to lock said shaft against rotation in a selected position.

16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein the box comprises floor sections on two opposite open sides thereof, each floor section being pivotably mounted to the box and serving to cover the corresponding open side of the box when in the closed position, and wherein the means for maintaining the box in the upright attitude includes torsion means for erecting and lowering the box relativeto the floor section on one side thereof.

17. Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 further including a pair of torsion means respectively coupled between the box and a corresponding associated floor section for controlling the relative rotation between the box and the corresponding floor section.

18. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a base structure and support means for independently supporting the box and the panels folded therein during translational movement of the box relative to the base structure when the box is in the hori' I zontal attitude.

19. Apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein the support means comprise cantilever support members slidably mounted on opposite sides of the base structure and pivotably mounted to the box for supporting the box for rotation between upright and horizontal attitudes and for translational movement thereof in the horizontal attitude relative to the base structure.

20. Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 wherein the support means further include adjustable mating means respectively connected to the base structure and to the box for raising the box slightly during engagement between the base structure and the box in the upright attitude in order to relieve the cantilever support members of the weight of the box when the box is in the upright attitude.

21. Apparatus in accordance with claim wherein the mating means comprise a support plate mounted to the base structure with means for adjusting the position of the support plate relative to the base structure, hinged support means mounted to the box by adjustable mounting means, and spring means biasing the hinge means to extend outwardly from the box in the released position, the hinged support means bearing against a lip of the support plate to develop an upward force against the box relative to the base structure as the box rotates to the upright attitude.

22. Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 wherein the support means further include means for support-v ing individual panels within the box when the box is in the horizontal attitude in order to lift said panels and prevent their bearing against upper surfaces of the base structure during translational movement of the box relative thereto.

23. Apparatus in accordance with claim 22 wherein the outer roof panel has a side beam with an edge extending downward when the box is in the horizontal attitude, and including pivoted support means mounted to the box for engaging said downward edge and supporting the roof panel during translational movement of the box.

24. Apparatus in accordance with claim 22 wherein the inner roof panel includes a side beam having a lip portion extending upwardly when the box is in the horizontal attitude, and the support means further includes a pivoted member mounted to the box and being pivotable to engage said lip portion to support the inner roof panel when the box is in the horizontal attitude.

25. Apparatus in accordance with claim 24 wherein the pivoted member is retractable from engagement with said lip portion, and further including a handle affixed to said pivoted member and extending outwardly though the side of said box. for manipulation from the outside of the box. I

26. Apparatus in accordance with claim 22 wherein the box includes an interior counter surface and the support means further include a retractable member pivotably mounted to the counter surface for selectively engaging an edge of a wall panel to support the wall panel when the box is in the horizontal position.

27. Apparatus in accordance with claim 26 further including a rod pivotably mounting the retractable member to the counter surface for rotationalmovement relative thereto, and a lever for rotating said rod to extend or retract said retractable member.

28. Apparatus for erecting and retracting an expandable space enclosure comprising:

a box for storing folded roof and wall panels therein and having at least one open side which is covered in the storage condition by a floor section pivotably connected to the box, the folded wall panels comprising an end wall and a plurality of side wall panels foldable relative to each other, the end wall being supported on rollers riding on the surface of the floor section and adapted for translational movement in a direction normal to the plane of the box and in an attitude generally parallel to said plane;

an alignment mechanism for guiding the end wall and maintaining its attitude aligned generally parallel to the plane of the box irrespective of the point along said end wall at which a translational force generally normal to the plane of the box is applied, said alignment mechanism comprising first and second cable means, respectively extending from corresponding box anchor points fixed at opposite sides of the box, across the end wall to corresponding floor anchor points located at opposite outboard corners of the floor.

29. Apparatus in accordance with claim 28 further including a plurality of pulley means mounted at opposite sides of the end wall adjacent the bottom thereof for guiding the cables between the corresponding anchor points and around the sides of the end wall.

30. Apparatus in accordance with claim 29 further including a spring connected in series with each of said cables adjacent the associated box anchor point for controlling cable tension.

31. Apparatus in accordance with claim 28 wherein the floor mounted anchor points comprise respectively a pulley and a spring biased reel for varying the extended length of the first and second cables while maintaining said cables taut.

32. Apparatus in accordance with claim 29 wherein the pulley means comprises first and second pulleys coaxially mounted one above the other on a first vertical axis and a third pulley mounted on a second axis adjacent but displaced from said first axis; the first pulley being adapted to guide one of said cables between a floor anchor point and a cable run extending across the lower edge of the end wall, the second and third pulleys being adapted to guide the other of said cables between a cable run extending across the lower edge of the end wall and a cable run extending to the box anchor point; and a mounting bracket secured to the lower corner of the end wall for supporting said pulleys thereon.

33. Apparatus in accordance with claim 28 wherein the respective side wall panels positioned along one side of the floorare joined to each other and to the box by means of continuous foldable plastic hinges.

34. Apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein there is an odd number of side wall panels along one side of the floor, and further comprising slidable joining means connecting the outer side wall panel to the end wall.

35. Apparatus in accordance with claim 34 wherein the slidable joining means comprise transverse slide bars mounted at upper and lower edges of the end wall, and slide fixtures respectively coupled between upper and lower outboard corners of the side wall panel adjacent the end wall and corresponding slide bars for transverse movement along the barssections extending respectively over upper and lower edges of the slide bar for retaining the fixture on the bar during its translational movement with respect thereto.

Claims

1. Apparatus for erecting and retracting an expandable space enclosure comprising: a box for storing folded roof and wall panels therein and having at least one open side which is covered in the storage condition by a floor section pivotably connected to the box, the roof panels comprising a pair of panels hinged together as a roof section for folded storage within the box, the inner panel being pivotably mounted to said box and having cantilevered erecting means adapted to rotate the roof section about the pivot support and maintain said section in unfolded horizontal position upon erection; cable means for supporting and aligning said panels during movement of the panels between expanded and folded positions relative to the box; at least one of said wall panels comprising an end wall movable translationally between parallel expanded and storage positions while maintained aligned in a fixed attitude during said movement by said cable means; releasable means for maintaining said box in an upright attitude for the unfolding of the panels therefrom in order to provide an expanded space enclosure and for the retraction of said panels for storage within the box; and a control mechanism for unfolding the two roof panels relative to each other while the entire roof section is being rotated to the horizontal position relative to the box.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the first spool is twice the diameter of the second spool to develop a rotation of the outer panel which is twice the angle of rotation of the inner panel between folded and erected positions.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein the first spool is fixedly mounted to the box; wherein the second spool is fixedly mounted to the outer panel for rotation therewith; and wherein the outer panel rotates through approximately 180* and the inner panel rotates through approximately 90* with the directions of rotation of the two panels being opposite to each other.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the erecting means includes coupling means extending between the roof section and the floor section so that the weight of the floor is utilized in erecting the roof section.

16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein the box comprises floor sections on two opposite open sides thereof, each floor section being pivotably mounted to the box and serving to cover the corresponding open side of the box when in the closed position, and wherein the means for maintaining the box in the upright attitude includes torsion means for erecting and lowering the box relative to the floor section on one side thereof.

18. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a base structure and support means for independently supporting the box and the panels folded therein during translational movement of the box relative to the base structure when the box is in the horizontal attitude.

21. Apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein the mating means comprise a support plate mounted to the base structure with means for adjusting the position of the support plate relative to the base structure, hinged support means mounted to the box by adjustable mounting means, and spring means biasing the hinge means to extend outwardly from the box in the released position, the hinged support means bearing against a lip of the support plate to develop an upward force against the box relative to the base structure as the box rotates to the upright attitude.

22. Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 wherein the support means further include means for supporting individual panels within the box when the box is in the Horizontal attitude in order to lift said panels and prevent their bearing against upper surfaces of the base structure during translational movement of the box relative thereto.

25. Apparatus in accordance with claim 24 wherein the pivoted member is retractable from engagement with said lip portion, and further including a handle affixed to said pivoted member and extending outwardly though the side of said box for manipulation from the outside of the box.

27. Apparatus in accordance with claim 26 further including a rod pivotably mounting the retractable member to the counter surface for rotational movement relative thereto, and a lever for rotating said rod to extend or retract said retractable member.

28. Apparatus for erecting and retracting an expandable space enclosure comprising: a box for storing folded roof and wall panels therein and having at least one open side which is covered in the storage condition by a floor section pivotably connected to the box, the folded wall panels comprising an end wall and a plurality of side wall panels foldable relative to each other, the end wall being supported on rollers riding on the surface of the floor section and adapted for translational movement in a direction normal to the plane of the box and in an attitude generally parallel to said plane; cable means for supporting and aligning said panels during movement of the panels between expanded and folded positions relative to the box; at least one of said wall panels comprising an end wall movable translationally between parallel expanded and storage positions while maintained aligned in a fixed attitude during said movement by said cable means; releasable means for maintaining said box in an upright attitude for the unfolding of the panels therefrom in order to provide an expanded space enclosure and for the retraction of said panels for storage within the box; and an alignment mechanism for guiding the end wall and maintaining its attitude aligned generally parallel to the plane of the box irrespective of the point along said end wall at which a translational force generally normal to the plane of the box is applied, said alignment mechanism comprising first and second cable means, respectively extending from corresponding box anchor points fixed at opposite sides of the box, across the end wall to corresponding floor anchor points located at opposite outboard corners of the floor.

33. Apparatus in accordance with claim 28 wherein the respective side wall panels positioned along one side of the floor are joined to each other and to the box by means of continuous foldable plastic hinges.

35. Apparatus in accordance with claim 34 wherein the slidable joining means comprise transverse slide bars mounted at upper and lower edges of the end wall, and slide fixtures respectively coupled between upper and lower outboard corners of the side wall panel adjacent the end wall and corresponding slide bars for transverse movement along the bars.

36. Apparatus in accordance with claim 35 further including means for pivotably mounting the slide fixtures to the side wall panels.

37. Apparatus in accordance with claim 30 wherein the slide fixtures comprise upper and lower curved end sections extending respectively over upper and lower edges of the slide bar for retaining the fixture on the bar during its translational movement with respect thereto.