SEGMENTED MODULAR ENCLOSURES

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/550,265, filed Feb. 6, 2024, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

There is an urgent need for low-cost temporary structures to house people and animals in the event of natural disasters and for refugees from conflict areas, not only for housing, but also for medical triage, food preparation and supplies storage. Although tents are the currently used solution, they are inadequate for a wide range of reasons, including low internal height, relatively short life, relatively frangible, relatively impermanent in inclement weather, not insulated, subject to collapse in heavy snow-load environments, and for the more sophisticated, advanced material type of expedition tents, much too expensive.

In cases of natural disaster, there is an immediate unmet need for longer term useable structures, having a useful-life of on the order of 2-5 years until permanent housing is constructed for the homeless. A prime example is the 2004 Christmas tsunami that developed from a 9.1 magnitude sub-sea earthquake off the SW coast of Sumatra. The earthquake triggered a series of devastating tsunami along the coasts of most landmasses bordering the Indian Ocean, killing more than 225,000 people in eleven countries, and inundating coastal communities with waves up to 30 meters (100 feet) high. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. Indonesia, Sumatra, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand were hardest hit.

Similar disaster examples are the refugee situations in the magnitudes 7.1 and 6.0 Haiti earthquakes of January 13 and 19, 2010, those resulting from the conflicts in Gaza, Somalia and the ethnic wars in various African countries, as well as the humanitarian crises resulting from vast numbers of immigrants crossing into the U.S. borders from Mexico. Thus, millions of persons are displaced and living in refugee camps in, for example, frayed tents, huts of mud and dung wattle, discarded sheet metal, cardboard and/or worn sheets.

Even more prevalent are the estimated one billion squatters and homeless in the world. In almost all of the world's countries there are extensive slums, favelas, barrios, or shanty towns, typically on the edges of major cities and consisting almost entirely of self-constructed housing built of scraps of material without the landowner's permission. While these settlements may in time grow to become both legalized and indistinguishable from normal residential neighborhoods, they start off as “squats” with minimal basic infrastructure: no sewage system or drinking water, and if there is electricity, it is stolen from a nearby cable.

Temporary shelters are also used at conventions, trade shows, fairs and festivals, sporting events, for farm stands, and along trails or at campgrounds, to name a few.

Accordingly, there is a pressing need for improvements in rugged, temporary enclosures that are low cost, simple to manufacture, light weight for easy portability to an erection site, simple to erect by unskilled manual labor without complex tools, yet are weather and pest-proof and flexible in design to provide cluster-buildings for a wide range of housing and support uses for extended service life.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of this disclosure will be apparent considering the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular enclosure apparatus according to aspects of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, with parts separated, of the modular enclosure apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front, perspective view of a segment of the modular enclosure apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear, perspective view of the segment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom, perspective view of a pair of segments shown connected together and coupled to a door assembly of the modular enclosure apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a plurality of segments of the modular enclosure apparatus of FIG. 1 shown stacked together;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are enlarged, perspective views illustrating segments being coupled together with a union element;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating multiple modular enclosure apparatus coupled together to form a modular enclosure system; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, with parts separated, of the modular enclosure system of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements. Throughout this description, the term “proximal” refers to a portion of a structure, or component thereof, that is closer to a user, and the term “distal” refers to a portion of the structure, or component thereof, that is farther from the user. Directional reference terms, such as “top,” “bottom,” “side,” “upper,” “lower,” and the like, are used to ease description of the aspects and are not intended to have any limiting effect on the ultimate orientation of a structure or any part thereof.

In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring this disclosure in unnecessary detail.

As can be appreciated, securement of any of the components of the presently disclosed apparatus can be effectuated using known securement techniques such welding, crimping, gluing, fastening, etc.

With reference to FIG. 1, a modular enclosure apparatus 10, which is a practical enclosure or shelter suitable for both temporary and permanent use (e.g., storage and/or housing for one or more individuals), is shown. Modular enclosure apparatus 10 enables quick and affordable manufacturing, distribution, and stackability for storage and/or transport. Modular enclosure apparatus 10 has a spherical core 10a and connector wings 12 extending radially outward from spherical core 10a at angularly offset positions relative to one another (e.g., 120 degrees offset). As seen in FIG. 2, each wing 12 of modular enclosure apparatus 10 is configured to connect to a door assembly 14, an enclosure wall assembly 15, and/or an elongated window assembly 16. Indeed, each wing 12 includes a mounting ledge 12a configured to support door assembly 14, enclosure wall assembly 15, and/or elongated window assembly 16, which are configured to be secured to an outer surface 12b of mounting ledge 12a via any suitable securement technique such as friction fit, fastening, welding, etc. Mounting ledge 12a has an inner surface that defines and surrounds a wing opening 12c.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, door assembly 14 of modular enclosure apparatus 10 includes, for example, a door frame assembly 14a and a door 14b that is pivotably coupled to door frame assembly 14a (e.g., via one or more hinges (not explicitly shown) between open and closed positions. A handle assembly 14c is secured to door 14b and may include a lock (not explicitly shown) to secure door 14b to door frame assembly 14a when door 14b is disposed in a closed position (not explicitly shown). In aspects, doors assembly 14 may include glass and/or one or more windows 16 supported in doors 14b. Enclosure wall assembly 15 includes a wall frame 15a and a wall 15b supported by wall frame 15a. Wall 15 can include any suitable material and, in aspects, may be solid and/or may include one or more openings (not shown). Window assembly 16 includes, for example, a window frame 16a and one or more windows 16b supported in window frame 16a. Windows 16b may be permanently closed and/or selectively openable (e.g., a double hung and/or casing style window), and may include a window lock (not explicitly shown) to selectively prevent windows 16b from opening. As can be appreciated, door assembly 14 and/or elongated window assembly 16 may be sealed (e.g., hermetically sealed) with wings 12, for example to prevent cold air from entering and/or warm air from exiting enclosure apparatus 10.

As can be appreciated, structures of such enclosure apparatus 10, 10′, such as door assembly 14, enclosure wall assembly 15, and/or an elongated window assembly 16, provide privacy, comfort, and/or improved aesthetic, provide ventilation and/or climate control, provide internal and/or external visibility, and/or provide structure for ingress into such enclosure apparatus 10, 10′ and/or egress out of enclosure apparatus 10, 10′.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 to 5, each modular enclosure apparatus 10 (or 10′) includes six universal sections or segments 18 that are identical to one another. Segments 18 are configured to be connected to one another to form the modular enclosure apparatus 10 or 10′ (see e.g., FIG. 9). Each segment 18 includes a shell section 18a having a first shell portion 18b and a second shell portion 18c. Shell section 18a has a curvilinear configuration. Each segment 18 further includes an arched section 18d extending from shell section 18a and disposed between first shell portion 18b and second shell portion 18c. Each segment 18 has an outer surface 18f and an inner surface 18g. Arched section 18d includes a backspan 18h having a first leg 18i extending from a first side of backspan 18h and a second leg 18j extending from a second side of backspan 18h. The first and second legs 18i, 18j are disposed in mirrored relationship to one another and each extends at an acute angle relative to backspan 18h. A ridge 18k extends along backspan 18h on outer surface 18f of segment 18. A channel 18m is defined along inner surface 18g of segment 18 below ridge 18k, between first and second shell portions 18b, 18c, and above arched section 18d. Shell section 18a further includes an arcuate convergent portion 18n, from which ridge 18k extends, that connects first and second shell portions 18a, 18b together. Arcuate convergent portion 18n extends between an inner arc 18p and an outer arc 18q that has a larger radius than inner arc 18p. A curved lip 18r projects (e.g., perpendicularly) from inner arc 18p.

As best seen in FIG. 4, segment 18 extends from an outer end 18v to an inner end 18w disposed opposite to outer end 18v. Inner end 18w includes a first end attachment edge 18x extending from first shell portion 18b and first leg 18i of arched section 18d, and a second end attachment edge 18y extending from second shell portion 18c and second leg 18j of arched portion 18d. Second end attachment edge 18y is disposed opposite to first end attachment edge 18x.

A first side attachment edge 18s of segment 18 extends from a free side of first shell portion 18b and a second side attachment edge 18t of segment 18 extends from a free side of second shell portion 18c. Second side attachment edge 18t is disposed opposite to first side attachment edge 18s. Briefly, as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, in aspects, first and/or second side attachment edges 18s, 18t and/or first and/or second end attachment edges 18x, 18y may define one more fastening holes “H” for receiving, for instance, fasteners (e.g., screws that may be securable by nuts; not shown) to secure adjacent segments to one another.

First side attachment edge 18s of segment 18 has a curvilinear configuration including a curved portion 182 and a straight portion 184 extending from curved portion 182. Curved portion 182 extends to a first end adjacent to curved lip 18r on outer end 18v of segment 18, and straight portion 184 extends from a second end of curved portion 182 that is opposite to the first end of curved portion 182 to first end attachment edge 18x. An inner side ledge 186 extends along curved and straight portions 182, 184 on inner surface 18g of segment 18. Inner side ledge 186 of one segment (e.g., segment 18) is configured to support second side attachment edge 18t of another segment (e.g., segment 18′) such that the respective first and second side attachment edges of respective segments 18, 18′ are disposed in an overlapping arrangement (e.g., adjacent to one another and disposed in contacting relationship with one another) to facilitate securement of respective segments 18, 18′ to one another.

Second side attachment edge 18t of segment 18 has a curvilinear configuration including a curved portion 181 and a straight portion 183 extending from curved portion 181. Curved portion 181 extends to a first end adjacent to curved lip 18r on outer end 18v of segment 18, and straight portion 183 extends from a second end of curved portion 181 that is opposite to the first end of curved portion 181 to second end attachment edge 18y. An outer side ledge 185 extends along curved and straight portions 181, 183 on outer surface 18f of segment 18. Outer side ledge 185 of one segment (e.g., segment 18′) is configured to support first side attachment edge 18s of another segment (e.g., segment 18″) such that respective such that the respective first and second side attachment edges of respective segments 18′, 18″ are disposed in an overlapping arrangement (e.g., adjacent to one another and disposed in contacting relationship with one another) to facilitate securement of respective segments 18′, 18′″ to one another.

First end attachment end 18x of segment 18 has a curvilinear configuration and includes a curved portion 190 and an L-shaped portion 192 extending from curved portion 190. Curved portion 190 extends from a first outer side 1802 of segment 18 to a first inner side 1804 of segment 18. L-shaped portion 192 extends from curved portion 190 to first leg 18i of arched section 18d. An inner end ledge 194 extends along curved and L-shaped portions 190, 192 on inner surface 18g of segment 18. Inner end ledge 194 of one segment (e.g., segment 18) of, for instance, first annular portion 10f is configured to support one second end attachment end 18y of another segment (e.g., segment 18′) of second annular portion 10s when first and second annular portions 10f, 10s are coupled together. In particular, similar to first and second side attachment edges 18s, 18t as discussed above, when inner end ledge 194 supports second end attachment end 18y, first and second end attachment ends 18x, 18y of respective first and second annular portions 10f, 10s are disposed in an overlapping arrangement (e.g., adjacent to one another and disposed in contacting relationship with one another) to facilitate securement of respective first and second annular portions 10f, 10s together.

Second end attachment end 18y of segment 18 has a curvilinear configuration and includes a curved portion 191 and a straight portion 193 extending from curved portion 191. Curved portion 191 extends from a second outer side 1806 of segment 18 to a second inner side 1808 of segment 18. Straight portion 193 extends from curved portion 191 to second leg 18j of arched section 18d. An outer end ledge 196 extends along curved and straight portions 191, 193 on inner surface 18g of segment 18. Outer end ledge 196 of one segment (e.g., segment 18′) of, for instance, first annular portion 10f is configured to support one first end attachment end 18x of another segment (e.g., segment 18″) of second annular portion 10s when first and second annular portions 10f, 10s are coupled together. In particular, as similarly discussed above with respect to inner end ledge 194, when outer end ledge 196 supports first end attachment end 18x, first and second end attachment ends 18x, 18y of respective first and second annular portions 10f, 10s are disposed in an overlapping arrangement (e.g., adjacent to one another and disposed in contacting relationship with one another) to facilitate securement of respective first and second annular portions 10f, 10s together.

As seen in FIGS. 5, 7, and 8, three segments 18, 18′, 18″ of the six segments of modular enclosure apparatus 10 are configured to be connected together by segment strips such as segment strips 19, 19′, 19″ (e.g., 3 segment strips) disposed between adjacent sides of the respective segments 18, 18′, 18″ to form a first annular portion 10f of modular enclosure apparatus 10. Segment strips 19, 19′, 19″ are configured to couple (and/or seal) adjacent side attachment edges of adjacent sides of the respective segments 18, 18′, 18″ and are securable to such side attachment edges by any suitable securement technique such as fastening, welding, adhesive, magnetics, or the like.

With reference also to FIG. 1, first annular portion 10f can be utilized as an upper or lower portion of modular enclosure apparatus 10 (see FIG. 1). Another three segments of the six segments can also be connected together by separate segments unions to form a second annular portion 10s that can likewise function as an upper or lower portion of modular enclosure apparatus 10. For instance, as seen in FIG. 1, first annular portion 10f may be secured on top of second annular portion 10s such that first and second end attachment edges 18x, 18y (see FIG. 4) of first annular portion 10f are disposed in an overlapping arrangement with first and second end attachment edges 18x, 18y of second annular portion 10s to secure first and second annular portions 10f, 10s of modular enclosure apparatus 10 together.

As best seen in FIG. 2, when connected together, each modular enclosure apparatus 10, namely, curved lips 18r of the respective segments of first annular portion 10f collectively define an annular opening 20 of modular enclosure apparatus 10 to which a cap assembly 22, which may be in the form of an annular window assembly (e.g., a skylight), can be coupled via any suitable securement technique such as friction-fit, fastening, welding, adhesive, magnetics or the like. Similarly, one or more door assemblies 14, enclosure wall assemblies 15, and/or an elongated window assemblies 16 may be secured to connector wings 12 of modular enclosure apparatus 10, and can likewise be secured using any suitable securement technique such as friction-fit, fastening, welding, adhesive, magnetics or the like as noted above. In aspects, curved lips 18r may include a threaded inner and/or outer surface to facilitate a threaded securement of cap assembly 22. A cap assembly 22 may also be secured to annular opening 20 of second annular potion 10s to close off annular opening 20. In aspects, cap assembly 22 may be secured to an interior surface of modular enclosure apparatus 10 that is adjacent to cap assembly 22 and/or curved lips 18r for closing offing annular opening 20.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, to facilitate, for instance, storage and/or transportation of segments 18, any number of segments 18 can be stacked together in a nested arrangement as shown in FIG. 6. For instance, ridge 18k of a first segment 18 is slidably receivable within channel 18m of a second segment 18′ to nest first segment 18 into second segment 18′. Likewise, ridge 18k of second segment 18′ is slidably receivable within channel 18m of a third segment 18″ to nest second segment 18′ (e.g., and first segment 18) into third segment 18″.

Turning to FIGS. 9 and 10, each wing 12 of modular enclosure apparatus 10 is configured to connect to another wing 12 from a separate modular enclosure apparatus 10′, for instance, to connect multiple modular enclosure apparatus 10, 10′ together for expanding available interior space and forming a modular enclosure system 100.

With continued reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, when adjacent wings 12 of separate modular enclosure apparatus 10, 10′ are connected together to form a modular enclosure system 100, such as shown, a wing union 17 can be disposed between free ends of the respective wings 12 to couple adjacent modular enclosure apparatus 10, 10′ together. Wing union 17 includes a first half 17a that slides over mounting ledge 12a of a wing 12 of one modular enclosure apparatus such as modular enclosure apparatus 10′, and a second half 17b that slides over mounting ledge 12a of a wing 12 of another modular enclosure apparatus such as modular enclosure apparatus 10 to connect wings 12 of the modular enclosure apparatus 10, 10′ together to form modular enclosure system 100. As can be appreciated, wing union 17 can be secured to wings 12 via any suitable securement technique such as fastening, friction-fit, etc.

In aspects, segment 18 can be manufactured from any suitable material such as a durable polymer, metal, ceramic, wood, composites, and/or the like, and which may be recyclable.

In aspects, segments 18 may or may not be foam filled for added insulation and strength.

In aspects, any of the unions, strips, etc., may provide weatherproofing and/or be in the form of an overlapping seam.

Also, although not explicitly shown, the modular enclosure apparatus 10 can be stacked on top of one another (e.g., via annular opening 20) in which an enclosure union or platform (e.g., a cylindrical rod received within the opposing openings 20 and fastened to the openings 20) can be coupled for supporting modular enclosure apparatus 10 on top of one another.

Further aspects of the disclosure are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses.

A modular enclosure apparatus includes six segments that couple together to form a spherical core having three wings extending radially from spherical core and being angularly offset from one another about the spherical core. The spherical core and the wings are hollow.

The modular enclosure apparatus of the preceding clause, wherein each segment is identical to each of the other segments.

The modular enclosure apparatus of any of the preceding clauses, wherein a first set of three segments of the six segments define a first annular portion when the first set is connected together, and wherein a second set of three segments of the six segments define a second annular portion when the second set is connected together, and wherein the second annular portion is configured to be mounted on the first annular portion or vice versa.

The modular enclosure apparatus of any of the preceding clauses, wherein at least one of the first or second annular portions defines an annular opening.

The modular enclosure apparatus of any of the preceding clauses, wherein a cap assembly is securable to the at least one of the first or second annular portions.

The modular enclosure apparatus of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the cap assembly includes a window.

The modular enclosure apparatus of any of the preceding clauses, wherein at least one of the three wings is configured to couple to a door assembly, an enclosure wall assembly, or a window assembly.

The modular enclosure apparatus of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the segments are stackable in a nested arrangement.

The modular enclosure apparatus of any of the preceding clauses, wherein each segment includes a ridge on an outer surface of the respective segment and each segment defines a channel on an inner surface of the respective segment, and wherein the ridge of a first segment of the six segments is configured to be received in the channel of a second segment of the six segments to nest the first and second segments together in a stacked arrangement.

The modular enclosure apparatus of any of the preceding clauses, wherein each segment defines an arched section disposed between a first shell portion and a second shell portion.

A modular enclosure system includes a first modular enclosure apparatus, a second modular enclosure apparatus, and a wing union that connects the first and second modular enclosure apparatus together. Each of the first and second modular enclosure apparatus includes six segments that couple together to form a spherical core having three wings extending radially from spherical core and being angularly offset from one another about the spherical core. The spherical core and the wings are hollow.

The modular enclosure system of the preceding clause, wherein each segment is identical to each of the other segments.

The modular enclosure system of any of the preceding clauses, wherein a first set of three segments of the six segments define a first annular portion when the first set is connected together, and wherein a second set of three segments of the six segments define a second annular portion when the second set is connected together, and wherein the second annular portion is configured to be mounted on the first annular portion or vice versa.

The modular enclosure system of any of the preceding clauses, wherein at least one of the first or second annular portions defines an annular opening.

The modular enclosure system of any of the preceding clauses, wherein a cap assembly is securable to the at least one of the first or second annular portions.

The modular enclosure system of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the cap assembly includes a window.

The modular enclosure system of any of the preceding clauses, wherein at least one of the three wings is configured to couple to a door assembly, an enclosure wall assembly, or a window assembly.

The modular enclosure system of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the segments are stackable in a nested arrangement.

The modular enclosure system of any of the preceding clauses, wherein each segment includes a ridge on an outer surface of the respective segment and each segment defines a channel on an inner surface of the respective segment, and wherein the ridge of a first segment of the six segments is configured to be received in the channel of a second segment of the six segments to nest the first and second segments together in a stacked arrangement.

A modular enclosure system includes a first modular enclosure apparatus including six segments that couple together to form a spherical core having three wings extending radially from spherical core and being angularly offset from one another about the spherical core. The spherical core and the wings are hollow. The modular enclosure system includes a second modular enclosure apparatus and a wing union that connects the first and second modular enclosure apparatus together.

Persons skilled in the art will understand that the structures and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying figures are non-limiting exemplary aspects, and that the description, disclosure, and figures should be construed merely as exemplary of aspects. It is to be understood, therefore, that the present disclosure is not limited to the precise aspects described, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. Additionally, it is envisioned that the elements and features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary aspect may be combined with the elements and features of another without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, and that such modifications and variations are also intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. Indeed, any combination of any of the presently disclosed elements and features is within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the subject matter of the present disclosure is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described.