Expandable structure and vendor space

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10293735-B2
Application number	US-201715815038-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2017
Priority date	Mar 21, 2017
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

An expandable structure that includes front and rear structural units having inside-facing surfaces parallel to one another, a retractable top that spans the front and rear structural units, and first and second retractable partitions each of which spans and connects the front and rear structural units. The front structural unit is fixably attached to a substrate and the rear structural unit is mounted on a rolling mechanism so that the rear structural unit may be moved away from the front structural unit in an orientation perpendicular to the face of the first structural unit to a distance equivalent to a deployed depth of the first retractable partition, the second retractable partition and the retractable top.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An expandable vendor structure, comprising:
a front structural unit and a rear structural unit, wherein the front and rear structural units have inside-facing surfaces parallel to one another,
a retractable top that spans the front and rear structural units and is connected to front and rear structural units, wherein the retractable top is a rollable screen fixed to the tops of the front and rear structural units,
first and second retractable partitions, each of which spans and connects the front and rear structural units,
wherein the front structural unit is immobilized by fixation to a substrate and the rear structural unit is mounted on a rolling mechanism so that the rear structural unit moves away from the front structural unit in an orientation perpendicular to the face of the first structural unit to a distance equivalent to a deployed depth of the first retractable partition, the second retractable partition and the retractable top,
an exposed shelf surface pivotally or hingeably attached to an outside-facing surface of the front structural unit.

2. The expandable vendor structure of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second retractable partitions and the retractable top are foldably retractable.

3. The expandable vendor structure of claim 1 , wherein the front structural unit includes a utility supply line that provides electricity or water to the interior of the expandable structure.

4. The expandable vendor structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the front and rear structural units has one or more shelves mounted on an inside-facing surface.

5. The expandable vendor structure of claim 1 , wherein the rolling mechanism includes wheels that rotate in axial alignment with the inside-facing surfaces of the front and rear structural units.

6. The expandable vendor structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and the second retractable partitions has a passageway permitting ingress and egress to the interior of the expandable structure in an expanded configuration.

7. An expandable vendor structure system, comprising:
the expandable structure of claim 1 , and
an anchoring mechanism configured to hold the rolling mechanism of the rear structural unit at a distance from the front structural unit corresponding to a fully expanded configuration of the expandable structure.

8. The expandable vendor structure system of claim 7 , wherein the anchoring mechanism is configured to hold the rolling mechanism of the rear structural unit at a distance from the front structural component corresponding to a fully retracted configuration of the expandable structure.

9. The expandable vendor structure system of claim 7 , wherein the inner surface of both the first and the second retractable partitions has a reversible snap fit locking to ensure the perfect closure and fully retracted configuration of the expandable structure.

10. The expandable vendor structure system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a rail for holding a wheel or guiding mechanism of the rolling mechanism that moves between the inside-facing surface of the front structural unit and the inside-facing surface of the rear structural unit.

Assignees

• Univ Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal

Inventors

• El-Wakeel Hala
• Al Doukhi Fatima
• Alfaraj Haya
• Alabduljabbar Semah
• Alarifi Haifa
• Alshraim Sumayyah

Classifications

• E04B1/34363

  with provisions to raise or lower the whole structure · CPC title

• A47F9/00

  Shop, bar, bank or like counters (show cases or show cabinets A47F3/00; safety transaction partitions, e.g. movable pay plates, E05G7/00) · CPC title

• A47B2031/008

  Outdoor serving carts · CPC title

• E04B2001/327

  comprised of a number of panels or blocs connected together forming a self-supporting structure · CPC title

• E04B1/3205

  Structures with a longitudinal horizontal axis, e.g. cylindrical or prismatic structures · CPC title