AU2011202177C1

AU2011202177C1 - Transportable Building

Info

Publication number: AU2011202177C1
Application number: AU2011202177A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Lea; Mark Winfield
Original assignee: Miihome Int Ip Pte Ltd
Current assignee: Miihome International Ip Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2011-05-11
Filing date: 2011-05-11
Publication date: 2016-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2031-05-11
Also published as: AU2011202177B1; WO2012151613A1

Abstract

A transportable building comprising a first floor portion (22), a second floor portion (24) hingedly connected to the first floor portion(22), the second floor portion (24) comprising a 5 floor having at least one elongate member (32, 34, 36, 38, 40) having an open section or a hollow section connected to an underneath part of the floor, wherein the building can be configured in a transportable configuration (20) in which the second floor portion (24) is positioned generally perpendicularly to the first floor portion (22) and the building can be configured in a built configuration in which the second floor portion (24) extends generally 10 parallel to or co-planar with the first floor portion (22), wherein in the transportable configuration, the building further comprises a beam positioned in an elongate member. The beam strengthens the structure during transport. The beam may carry lifting connectors or mounting brackets. A relatively lightweight transportable building having the size and shape of a standard ISO shipping container when in a folded configuration is provided.

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE PATENT SPECIFICATION Name of Applicant: Pearls MiiHome IP Pty Ltd Actual Inventors: Mark Winfield John Lea Address for Service: Cullens Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys Level 32, 239 George Street Brisbane QLD 4000 Australia Invention Title: Transportable Building The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it, known to the applicant: TRANSPORTABLE BUILDING FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention relates to a transportable building. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Transportable buildings are used in a number of situations. For example, remote area mining 10 camps or mining towns often include a number of transportable buildings that can simply be transported into place to provide short-term or long-term accommodation for employees of the mining operation. In other instances, transportable buildings are used where only a short term accommodation requirement is needed. For example, in a number of military applications, temporary villages may need to be established for housing military personnel. 15 Transportable buildings are often used in those circumstances because the transportable buildings can be easily moved into the region and can be easily removed from the region once the requirements for the temporary accommodation have been completed. Transportable buildings are also frequently used in disaster relief situations. For example, the recent tsunami in Japan resulted in the destruction of tens of thousands of homes. Transportable 20 buildings can rapidly provide liveable temporary accommodation for victims of such disasters. For ease of handling and transport, transportable buildings are often sized so that they are of the same size as International Standard (ISO) shipping containers. In a most simple form, the 25 transportable buildings simply comprise a converted shipping container in which a standard shipping container is fitted out with a small kitchen, a bathroom and a bed. Such transportable buildings provide very basic or rudimentary accommodation only. It is often desirable to provide remote area accommodation that has a larger living area than 30 can be provided by the floorspace of a standard shipping container. For this reason, foldable transportable buildings have been developed. Typically, such foldable, transportable 2 buildings are based upon standard shipping containers, albeit with the width modified to accommodate the floor thickness of the building. The side walls of the shipping containers are modified such that they are hinged to the floor of the shipping container. In order to transport the building, the side walls are folded upwardly and secured in place such that the 5 transportable building adopts the configuration of a standard shipping container. When the building is placed on site, it is expanded into its built configuration or erected configuration by folding the side walls down about the hinges until the side walls lie parallel to or generally co-planar with the floor section of the shipping container. The side walls of the container then form part of the floor of the building in the built configuration or erected configuration. This 10 has the effect of increasing the floorspace of the building. Many known foldable, transportable buildings utilise the strong frame of the shipping container as the basis for the building. Indeed, manufacture of such transportable buildings typically involves purchasing a standard shipping container and modifying that shipping 15 container. Advantageously, the shipping container is provided with lifting blocks or other transport connectors that facilitate ready lifting and handling of the shipping container. However, transportable buildings that are based upon converted shipping containers are typically very heavy, often weighing in excess of 24 tonnes. This can increase transport costs and can preclude transport by aeroplane or helicopter. 20 One possible solution to the problem of weight in transportable buildings is described in international patent application publication number WO 2007/033498. In this patent application, a containerised portable shelter which is small and light so that it can be moved by helicopter transport but which can also travel through container channels and has 25 increased expandability of the floorspace, is described. The containerised portable shelter of this patent application has a fraction (for example, one-halo of the standard ISO width, so that a plurality of modular units can be joined to form a standard ISO container. Two or more modular units can be joined side-by-side and/or end-to-end to form a compound shipping container preferably having ISO freight container characteristics. The modules described in 30 this patent application each include frameworks that are generally similar to the framework of an ISO shipping container. Although this patent application does describe modules that can 3 be transported by helicopter, creation of a shelter having a desirably large floorspace requires two or more modules to be connected together. This increases the assembly steps required on site. Furthermore, as each module has a very heavy frame, it would seem that a helicopter can only move one module at a time. Therefore, an increased number of helicopter trips are likely 5 to be required to bring in all the required modules to form a structure on to the worksite. The present applicant does not concede that the prior art discussed in this patent application forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere. 10 Throughout this specification, the term "comprising" and its grammatical equivalents shall be taken to have an inclusive meaning unless the context of use indicates otherwise. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 15 It is an object of the present invention to provide a transportable building that overcomes or at least ameliorates one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages, or provides a commercial alternative. According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a transportable building 20 comprising: - a first floor portion, - a second floor portion hingedly connected to the first floor portion; 25 - the second floor portion comprising a floor having at least one bearer connected to an underneath part of the floor, - wherein the building can be configured in a transportable configuration in which the second 30 floor portion is positioned generally perpendicularly to the first floor portion and the building 4 can be configured in a built configuration in which the second floor portion extends generally parallel to or co-planar with the first floor portion, - wherein in the transportable configuration, the bearer comprises an elongate member having 5 an open section or a hollow section and a beam positioned in the elongate member. In one embodiment, in the transportable configuration, the bearer comprises an elongate member having an open section or a hollow section and a beam positioned in the elongate member and the beam is removable from the elongate member. In this embodiment, the 10 elongate member may be connected to the underneath part of the floor of the second floor portion. The beam may be positioned inside the elongate member. The beam and the elongate member may be releasably connected to each other. In another embodiment, in the transportable configuration, the bearer comprises an elongate 15 member having an open section or a hollow section and a beam positioned in the elongate member and the elongate member is removable from the beam. In this embodiment, the beam may be connected to the underneath part of the floor of the second floor portion. The elongate member may be positioned such that it surrounds the beam. The beam and the elongate member may be releasably connected to each other. 20 In some embodiments, one or more of the beams carry a transport connector. In some embodiments, one or more of the beams carry a mounting bracket for connecting another beam thereto. The mounting bracket may connect another beam thereto in a fixed 25 positional relationship. In some embodiments, one or more of the beams carry tie member mounting bracket to enable a tie member to be connected thereto. 30 In some embodiments, the transportable building includes one or more further floor portions hingedly connected to the first floor portion. The one or more further floor portions extend 5 generally perpendicularly to the first floor portion when the building is configured in its transportable configuration. The one or more further floor portions suitably extend generally parallel to or coplanar with the first floor portion when the building is in its built configuration. 5 In a preferred form of the present invention, the invention provides a transportable building comprising: - a first floor portion, 10 - a second floor portion hingedly connected to the first floor portion at one edge of the first floor portion; - the second floor portion comprising a floor having at least one elongate member having an 15 open section or a hollow section connected to an underneath part of the floor, - a third floor portion hingedly connected to the first floor portion at an opposite edge of the first floor portion, 20 - the third floor portion comprising a floor having at least one elongate member having an open section or a hollow section connected to an underneath part of the floor, - wherein the building can be configured in a transportable configuration in which the second floor portion is positioned generally perpendicularly to the first floor portion and the third 25 floor portion is positioned generally perpendicularly to the first floor portion, wherein the building adopts a configuration having a size and shape similar to a standard ISO shipping container and the second floor portion and the third floor portion present exterior side walls of the container, wherein the building can be configured in a built configuration in which the second floor portion and the third floor portion extend generally parallel to or co-planar with 30 the first floor portion, 6 - wherein in the transportable configuration, the building further comprises a beam positioned in the elongate member. In some embodiments of the present invention, the floor of the building (in its built 5 configuration) comprises a plurality of flooring panels. The flooring panels may comprise sandwich panels or composite panels, in which a central core has sheets of material laminated to either side of the core. The sheets of material that are laminated to the core may comprise skins of metal, such as sheet steel. The core may be made from a number of materials, including expanded polystyrene (EPS), polyurethane, polyisocyanurate or indeed any other 10 material known to be suitable to the person skilled in the art for manufacturing sandwich panels or composite panels. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the at least one elongate member having an open section or a hollow section may comprise a top hat section or a C-section. The open 15 section or hollow section elongate member may be made from a lightweight material, such as a lightweight steel. Alternatively, the open section or hollow section elongate member may comprise a hollow section, such as a hollow rectangular or square section, that provides a closed cross-sectional surface but also includes a hollow region that can receive the structural beam. 20 The open section or hollow section member may include opposed sidewalls interconnected by a bottom wall. Transversely extending flanges may extend from the upper edges of the opposed sidewalls. The transversely extending flanges may extend outwardly or they may extend inwardly. The transversely extending flanges provide surfaces that facilitate 25 connecting floor panels or a floor structure to the open section or hollow section member. Suitably, a plurality of elongate members having an open section or a hollow section are positioned underneath the first floor portion, the second floor portion and any further floor portions. The elongate members may define a box section when they are connected to the 30 floor. It will be understood that this provides enhanced strength whilst still allowing relatively lightweight elongate members to be used.

7 In order to improve the strength of the building in its transportable configuration, a beam may be positioned in each of the elongate members. Suitably, the beam is connected to each of the elongate members, for example, by bolting, screwing, nailing, riveting, welding, by use of 5 adhesives, or the like. The beam that is positioned within the open section or hollow section member may comprise a rectangular section beam, a square section beam, an I-section beam or a C-section or U section beam. 10 The beam suitably has dimensions that allows it to fit into the open section or hollow section member. The beam suitably is able to slide into the open section or hollow section member. This enables the beam to be positioned inside the member by simply sliding the structural beam into the member. 15 Desirably, the beam comprises a structural beam. At least some of the beams that are positioned in (and connected to the elongate members) may have transportation connectors formed thereon or connected thereto such that the 20 transportation connectors can be used to facilitate transport of the building when in its transportable configuration.. For example, the structural beams may have International Standard (ISO) lifting blocks attached to them, which lifting blocks enable the building to be easily lifted or moved on to a transport vehicle using container lifting apparatus when the building is in its transportable configuration. Alternatively, the structural beams may be 25 provided with other arrangements that enable cranes or forklifts to lift and move the container/building. The transportation connectors may be removably connected to the structural beams so that the transportation connectors can be removed from the transportable building. The transportation connectors will typically be removed once the floor sections have been folded flat, but it will be appreciated that the transportation connectors may be 30 removed at any time. In one embodiment, the transportation connectors are connected to the beams by use of appropriate nuts and bolts.

8 In some embodiments, the beams that extend to upper corners of the building when the building is in the transportable configuration are provided with transportation connectors. 5 In some embodiments of the present invention, the elongate members provide sufficient strength to support the building when the building is in the built configuration. In these embodiments, the beams may be removed from the elongate members when the building is in the built configuration. In these embodiments, the beams can be removed from the elongate members and used to transport other buildings in the transportable configuration. 10 Alternatively, the beams can be stored until it is desired to move the building back to the transport configuration and to transport the building. The beams may be removed from the elongate members by sliding the beams out of the elongate members. Any fasteners, such as bolts, that are used to fasten or connect the beams to the elongate members, will be loosened or removed prior to removing the beams from the elongate members. 15 In other embodiments, it might be desirable to provide enhanced strength to the underfloor region of the building by retaining one or more of the beams in the elongate members when the building is in the built configuration. In such embodiments, it might be desirable to remove the transportation connectors from the beams. The transportation members may be 20 re-used. Although most of the embodiments of the present invention described above have elongate members being connected to the underfloor region of the second floor portion and beams being insertable into the elongate members, the present invention also encompasses the 25 reverse situation where beams (such as for joists made from timber or steel) are connected to the underfloor region of the second floor portion and elongate members having an open section or hollow section may be positioned to surround or encase the beams to thereby provide additional strength to the beams. In these embodiments, the elongate members may be removed when the building is in the built configuration. Similarly, in this embodiment, the 30 elongate members may carry transport connectors, mounting brackets, or tie member mounting brackets.

9 For brevity of description, the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to embodiments of the transportable building in which the bearer comprises the elongate member being connected underneath the floor of the respective floor portions and beams are 5 able to be inserted or positioned in the elongate member. However, it will be understood that the the present invention also extends to the corollary in which the bearers comprises a beam or joist being connected underneath the floor of the respective floor portions and one or more elongate members having hollow section or open section are positioned around the beams or joists to provide additional strength to the beams or joists. 10 In order to provide further strength and rigidity to the building when in its transportable configuration, one or more tie members may be connected across the top of the roof of the container when the building is in its transportable configuration in order to securely tie the opposite sides of the container together. The one or more tie members may comprise rigid 15 members, such as rods or beams. Alternatively, the one or more tie members may comprise cables or wires or straps. The tie members are suitably connected to beams or to connectors that are positioned on either side of the container. In some embodiments, the building, in its transportable configuration, comprises a plurality 20 of spaced rectangular or square frames. Each rectangular or square frame may be connected to the other rectangular square frames through the flooring, such as through flooring panels. The rectangular or square frames may comprise transverse frames (in that they extend across a width of the container). It may not be necessary to provide any longitudinal frame members to interconnect the transverse frames. Indeed, the flooring material may have sufficient 25 strength in itself to provide the necessary longitudinal strength to the building when it is in its transportation configuration. This further assists in minimising the weight of the building. When the building is in its transportable configuration, the building takes the shape and dimension of a standard ISO shipping container. The roof of the container may be provided 30 by panels or materials that form the roof of the building when the building is in its built configuration.

10 In some embodiments, all of the components that are required to complete the building are contained within the building when it is in its transportable configuration. For example, all the building components required to complete the building could be flat packed into bales and 5 stored within the container configuration adopted by the building when the building is in its transportable configuration. The building components that could be included within the container include the end walls or end wall panels of the building, the roof or roof panels of the building, the internal walls or internal partitions, doors, domestic goods such as washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators, plumbing equipment such as toilets, showers, sinks 10 and taps, joinery such as kitchen fittings and wardrobe fittings, roof trims such as fascias, gutters and down pipes, and external elements such as steps, posts, decks and skirts. In some embodiments, the side walls of the building (in its built configuration) are hingedly connected to respective floor portions. The side walls of the building are suitably hinged to 15 their respective floor portions in a manner such that the sidewalls fold flat to their respective floor portions when in the transportable configuration. In order to move the building to its built configuration, the floor portions are folded downwardly until they lie essentially horizontally and the side walls are folded upwardly until they stand essentially vertically. 20 The building of some embodiments of the present invention may include one or more rooms hingedly connected to the first floor portion. In some embodiments, a room that is hingedly connected to the first floor portion comprises a room floor hingedly connected to the first floor portion, the room floor having at least one wall positioned generally perpendicularly to the room floor and held in fixed relationship relative to the room floor. In this embodiment, 25 when the room floor moves about the hinge from the transportable configuration to the built configuration, the at least one wall effectively rotates with the room floor such that the perpendicular relationship between the room floor and the least one wall is maintained. Suitably, the room floor may have at least three walls, or even four walls, positioned generally perpendicularly to the room floor and held in fixed relationship relative to the room 30 floor. In this manner, the room be positioned in the built configuration by simply rotating the room about the hinge. It will be appreciated that the room may be provided with a ceiling or a 1 roof that is built into the room. Alternatively, the ceiling or the roof may be added after the room has been positioned in its extended or built configuration. In one embodiment, room comprises a bathroom. In another embodiment, the room 5 comprises a kitchen. In these embodiments, the bathroom or the kitchen may be fully assembled (including all plumbing, electrics and fittings) during manufacture or construction of the transportable building and moving the room from the transportable configuration to the built configuration results in an essentially completed bathroom or kitchen being present in the building. It will be understood that the essentially completed bathroom kitchen may 10 require a ceiling or roof to be added. However, the interior of the bathroom or kitchen may be essentially completed. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a transportable building, the transportable building having a transportable configuration in which the building adopts a configuration 15 having a size and shape similar to a standard shipping container, the transportable building comprising a first floor portion, and one or more rooms hingedly connected to the first floor portion, the one or more rooms hingedly connected to the first floor portion comprising a room floor hingedly connected to the first floor portion, the room floor having at least one wall positioned generally perpendicularly to the room floor and held in fixed relationship 20 relative to the room floor. Other features and advantages preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings 25 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a standard ISO shipping container; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a transportable building in accordance with an 30 embodiment of the present invention. The transportable building shown in figure 2 is shown in its transportable configuration; 12 Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the components that form the floor in the erected building of a transportable building in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 5 Figures 3A and 3B show schematic views of one possible hinge connection between the floor portions; Figure 4 shows an end view of an elongate member attached to a floor panel and having a 10 structural beam inserted into the elongate member; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a structural beam positioned inside an elongate member; 15 Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the arrangement shown in figure 5 with a transportation connector connected to the structural beam; Figure 7 shows a perspective view showing the components of figure 3 with one of the floor portions being folded upwardly to form a side wall for the container; 20 Figure 8 shows a perspective view similar to that shown in figure 7, but with another floor portion followed upwardly to form another side wall for the container; Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the skeleton frame of the container shown in figure 8 25 (with the panels removed for clarity); Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the components of the skeleton frame shown in figure 9 in a packed configuration; 30 Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a base corner connector suitable for use in an embodiment of the present invention; 13 Figure 12 shows the base corner connector shown in figure I I having other components of the transportable building connected to it; 5 Figure 13 shows a base intermediate connector suitable for use in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 14 shows the base intermediate connector shown in figure 12 having other components of the transportable building connected to it; 10 Figure 15 shows a perspective view of an upper part of a beam having a top corner connector connected to it; Figure 16 shows a perspective view of the top corner connector shown in figure 15 being 15 connected to a part of the transportable building that forms a side wall of the container in the transportable configuration and forms part of the floor in the erected configuration; Figure 17 shows a perspective view of the top corner connector shown in figure 15 with a roof panel for the container being positioned in place; 20 Figure 18 shows a perspective view of a top intermediate connector suitable for use in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 19 shows the top intermediate connector shown in figure 18 being connected to the 25 transportable building; Figure 20 shows the top intermediate connector shown in figure 19 having a tie member connected thereto; 30 Figure 21 shows a transportable building in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention being ready to be folded up into the transportable configuration in which the 14 building adopts the configuration having a size and shape similar to a standard ISO shipping container; Figure 22 shows the building of the 21 having one side wall of the container being formed by 5 folding a floor portion in an upwardly direction; Figure 23 shows the building of figure 22 having other components required in the erected building stacked inside the building; 10 Figure 24 shows the building of figure 23 having a second container sidewall being formed by folding another floor portion in an upwardly direction and showing the roofing panels for the container being put into place; Figure 25 shows the building of figure 24 with the roofing panels and tie members in place 15 and with horizontal base connectors being ready for insertion into the elongate members under the container floor portion; Figure 26 shows the transport building of figure 25 in the transportable configuration; 20 Figures 27A to 27E show the steps required to move the building from the transportable configuration (shown in figure 27A) to the built configuration or erected configuration (shown in figure 27E). The building shown in figures 27A to 27E includes folding bathrooms.; 25 Figures 28 to 33 show, in more detail, the various steps required to move the building from the transportable configuration to the built configuration or erected configuration. The boarding shown in figures 28 to 33 includes bathrooms that are fixed in place relative to the central floor portion; and 15 Figure 34 shows a perspective view of a transportable building in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The building shown in figure 34 includes folding bathrooms. 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It will be understood that the drawings have been provided for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be considered to be limited solely to the features as shown in the attached drawings. 10 Figure I shows a perspective view of a standard ISO shipping container 10. The container 10 includes a strong external steel framework that extends around each edge of the container 10. Fluted or ribbed steel panels, one of which is shown at 12, form the side walls of the container. One end 14 of the container comprises two doors that can be opened and closed. 15 Appropriate locking means, as will be known to a person skilled in the art, are provided to enable the doors to be securely locked during transport. The container also includes a flat roof 16. Transportation connectors, in the form of ISO standard transportation blocks, are mounted to each corner of the shipping container 10. 20 ISO standard shipping containers are built to sizes as specified in the international standard. The ISO standard allows shipping containers to be built in five standard lengths, being 20-ft (6.1 m), 40-ft (12.2 m), 45-ft (13.7 m), 48-ft (14.6 m), and 53-ft (16.2 m). The shipping container 10 shown in figure 1 is a Hi-Cube container and it has dimensions of 12.2 n long, 2.9 m high and 2.4 m wide. 25 Figure 2 shows a transportable building 20 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The transportable building 20 is shown in the transportable configuration in figure 2. As can be seen from figure 2, when the building 20 is in its transportable configuration, the building has a size and shape that is essentially similar to the ISO shipping container 10 30 shown in figure 1. This is especially advantageous in that standard ISO shipping container handling apparatus, such as cranes, or forklifts, flatbed trucks, flatbed rail carriages and the 16 like, can be used to handle and transport the transportable building 20 when the building is in the transportable configuration as shown in figure 2. For convenience, the transportable building will, from time to time hereinafter, be described as being a "container" when it is in the transportable configuration shown in figure 2. 5 The transportable building 20 is made from a number of components. Unlike a number of other transportable buildings that are based upon modified standard shipping containers that fold up to adopt a configuration that is similar to a standard shipping container, the transportable building 20 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention does 10 not require or utilise a sturdy, heavy steel frame inherited from a standard shipping container. Details of the components that are used in the manufacture of the transportable building in accordance with the present invention will now be provided. Figure 3 shows the parts of the transportable building 20 that form the floor of the building 15 when the building is in its built configuration or erected configuration. The floor comprises a first floor portion 22, a second floor portion 24 and a third floor portion 26. The first floor portion 22 forms the floor of the container when the building is in the transportable configuration. The second floor portion 24 is hingedly connected to one side of the first floor portion 22. The third floor portion 26 is hingedly connected to the opposite side of first floor 20 portion 22. The first floor portion and the second floor portion may be hinged together by use of piano hinges, gate hinges or indeed by any other hinging arrangements known to be suitable to persons skilled in the art. The first floor portion 22 and the third floor portion 26 are hinged together in a similar fashion. 25 Figures 3A and 3B show a side schematic view of the floor portion 22 being hingedly connected to floor portion 24. To achieve this, a hinge 23 is provided. Hinge 23 has a pivot or hinge point 25 located close to the edge of the first floor portion 22. Hinge leaf 27 is connected to the first floor portion 22. The hinge 23 has a second hinge leaf 29 that is connected to second floor portion 24. As can be seen from figure 3A, a gap 31 exists between 30 the adjacent edges of first floor portion 22 and second floor portion 24. This allows the second floor portion to pivot, hinge or fold upwardly about the hinge point 25 when it is 17 decided to move the transportable building to the transportable configuration. This is shown in figure 3B. The hinges shown in figures 3A and 3B may be mounted to the floor portions between the floor panels and the bearers/elongate members. Of course, it may also be possible to mount the hinge to the upper parts of the floor portions 22, 24 and this will allow 5 the adjacent edges of the floor portions 22, 24 to be positioned much more closely together. The skilled person would readily understand how the floor portions can be hingedly connected together. The second floor portion 24 comprises two longitudinally extending panels 28, 30. Panels 28, 10 30 suitably comprise sandwich panels or composite panels. For example, panels 28, 30 may comprise a central core made from expanded polystyrene having layers of sheet steel laminated to the upper and lower surfaces thereof. Such panels are well-known to person skilled in the art and need not be described further. The panels 28, 30 are relatively lightweight panels that have good strength properties. Furthermore, the panels in the second 15 and third floor portions act as beams when the second and third floor portions are in the vertical position (when the building is in the transportation configuration). In this position, the panels can support the dead load of the container. Other panels may also be used. 20 In order to connect the panels 28, 30 together, a variety of elongate members 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 are connected to the underside of panels 28, 30. It will be appreciated that the number of members required to positioned underneath the floor of the building may vary, depending on other variables. The person skilled in the art will really appreciate how many bearers are 25 required underneath the building to properly support the building. The elongate members 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 are suitably open section or hollow section in elongate members. Suitably, the elongate members 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 comprise top hat sections. One such section is shown in figure 4. The top hat section 32 shown in figure 4 comprises side walls 42, 44 that are interconnected by a lower wall 46. Transversely extending flanges 48, 50 extend outwardly 30 from the upper edges of respective side walls 42, 44. Holes 52 (see figures 5 and 6) are provided in the flanges 48, 50 in order to enable the elongate member 32 to be joined to the 18 panel 28. To achieve this, screws, nails, bolts or other fasteners 54 are inserted through the holes 52 and into the panel 28. The first floor portion 22 and the third floor portion 26 are manufactured in a similar fashion. 5 The floor portions 22, 24, 26 exhibit adequate longitudinal stiffness without requiring any longitudinal frame members to be attached to the panels. Accordingly, each floor portion 22, 24, 26 can be made as a relatively lightweight flooring section constructed from composite panels and lightweight top hat sections or elongate members. The top hat sections or elongate 10 members effectively act as bearers when the transportable building 20 is in the erected configuration. Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the elongate member/top hat section 32 (the flooring panels have been removed from figure 5 for clarity). As can be seen from figure 5, a 15 structural beam 56 can be inserted into the hollow section of the elongate member 32. In particular, structural beam 56 can be slid into the elongate member 32. The structural beam 56 is in the form of a hollow, rectangular section beam. However, other cross-sectional beings may be used, such as C-section beams, U-section beams or I-beams. In order to connect the structural beam 56 to the elongate member 32, bolts 62 may pass through the 20 elongate member 32 and the structural beam 56. The elongate member 32 and the structural beam 56 may be connected together by bolts at a number of locations along the length. This effectively ties the structural beam and elongate member together so that they form a unified bearer arrangement. 25 As can be seen from figure 5, the structural beam 56 has an end that extends out beyond the end of the elongate member 32. The structural beam 56 has a hole 58 formed therein. Hole 58 may be used to connect a transportation connector, such as an ISO lifting block 60, to the structural beam 56. This is shown in figure 6. Suitable bolts may be used to connect the lifting block 62 the structural beam 56. This enables the lifting block 60 to be selectively 30 removed from the structural beam 56. It will be appreciated that other arrangements can be used to releasably connect the transportation connector to the structural beam and the present 19 invention encompasses any such arrangement that allows the transportation connector to be releasably connected to the beam. Alternatively, the hole 58 may be used to connect the beam 56 to another elongate member. 5 This is particular useful in embodiments where it is desirable to connect two or more transportable buildings together when in the erected or built configuration. Figure 7 shows the third floor portion 26 being folded upwardly so that it extends generally perpendicularly to the first floor portion 22. 10 Figure 7 represents a first step in folding the transportable building up into a container. Figure 8 represents a second step. As shown in figure 8, the second floor portion 24 has also been folded upwardly until it is generally perpendicular to the first floor portion 22. In this manner, second floor portion 24 and third floor portion 26 form side walls of the container. 15 In order to provide greater rigidity to the container and to firmly hold the container in the transportable configuration, structural members/beams having connectors and/or lifting blocks are slid into the hollow elongate members mounted underneath the floor panels. Tie members are then positioned across the top of the container to hold the sidewalls of the 20 container in position, as shown in figure 8. As can be seen from figure 8, the heavy frame elements only extend transversely of the container. There are no heavy longitudinal frame elements used in the container. The racking loads are resisted by the diaphragm action of the panels. 25 Figure 9 shows the skeleton frame of the container shown in figure 8, but with the panels removed for clarity. As can be seen, the skeleton frame comprises a series of longitudinally spaced rectangular frames, some of which are numbered at 64, 66. The transversely extending frames are interconnected by the composite panels. The side and floor frame members are all 30 inserted into the hollow section elongate members that are located under the floor panels in 20 the erected building. The top frame members, which are in the form of tie members, are positioned across the top of the roof of the container. The frame members shown in figure 9 can all be removed from the transportable building and 5 packed into a neat stack 68, as shown in figure 10. This facilitates storage or transport of the frame members. The floor structure of the transportable building in accordance with the present invention acts as a load bearing beam in the vertical position and as a load-bearing floor system in the 10 horizontal position. When folded into the transportable configuration, the entire structure becomes more rigid, acting as a tubular beam section. This incredibly strong lightweight structure is achieved without the need for heavy structural steel frames that are normally required in standard shipping container construction. 15 Further details of the framework components will now be described. Figure I I shows a perspective view of a base corner connector for use with a transportable building in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The base corner connector 70 shown in figure 11 comprises a beam 72. Beam 72 has openings 74, 76 formed 20 therein. Openings 74, 76 may be slot-like openings to facilitate insertion of a bolt therethrough. The beam 72 is inserted into an end top hat section of the first floor portion, such as top hat section 32B shown in figure 3. The beam 72 has an ISO lifting block 78 affixed to one end. A mounting bracket 80 is 25 mounted to the lifting block 78. The mounting bracket 80 may comprise opposed ears 82, 84 having aligned slot like openings (one of which is shown at 86). As can be seen in figure 11, a similar base corner connector 88 is inserted into the other end of top hat bearer/section 32B. 30 21 Figure 12 shows the connectors 70 and 88 fixed in position. In particular, base corner connector 70 is slid into one end of top hat section 32B. Base corner connector 88 is slid into the other end of top hat section 32B. Bolts 89, 90, 91, 92 and associated nuts (not shown) are used to connect the beams of base corner connectors 70, 88 to the top hat section 32B. 5 Longitudinally extending floor panels 93, 94 of the first floor portion 22 are also shown in figure 12. In figure 12, the second floor portion 24 has been folded up only so that floor panel 30 is located above floor panel 93. A structural beam 95 has been positioned in top hat section 32 and connected to mounting bracket 80 by bolt 96. This effectively connects the lower end of beam 95 to beam 72. 10 Figure 13 shows a base intermediate connector for use in the present invention. Base intermediate connector 98 comprises a beam 100 having openings 102, 104 formed therein. A mounting bracket 106 which comprises opposed ears 108, 110 joined together by in intermediate section 112 is affixed to the end of beam 100. A similar base intermediate 15 connector 114 is also provided. Base intermediate connectors 112, 114 are intended to be slid into the top hat sections that are mounted under floor panels 93, 94 of the first floor portion 22 and are also positioned away from the ends of first floor portion 22. This is shown in figure 14, in which the beam 100 is 20 inserted into top hat section 34B of first floor portion 22. Bolts 109, 111 are used to connect the beam 100 to the top hat section 34B. Similarly, bolts 113, 117 are used to connect the base intermediate connector 114 to top hat section 34B. Another beam 115 is inserted into top hat section 34 of second floor portion 24. Bolts 116, 118 are used to connect the beam 115 to the mounting bracket 106. This rigidly holds the second floor portion 22 in the upright 25 position when the transportable building is in the transportable configuration. This effectively connects the lower end of beam 115 to beam 100. A top corner connector 120 is positioned at the top of beam 95 (refer to figure 15). Top corner connector 120 includes an ISO lifting block 122. The ISO lifting block 122 may be 30 connected to the beam 95 by way of bolts or other fasteners, or it may be permanently joined to the beam 95, for example, by welding.

22 Figure 16 shows the connector 120 inserted into top hat section 32. Panel 28 is also shown in figure 16. A bolt 124 is used to firmly hold the beam 95 in connection with the top hat section 32. 5 Figure 17 shows a similar view to that shown in figure 16 but with roofing panels 126 also being shown in position. The roofing panels 126 form the roof of the container when the transportable building is in the transportable configuration. 10 Figure 18 shows a top intermediate connector for use in an embodiment of the present invention. The top intermediate connector shown in figure 18 is intended to be inserted into the top hat sections that form part of the second floor portion 24 and third floor portion 26 and which are located intermediate the ends of the floor portions. The top intermediate connectors 130 are positioned at the upper part of beam 115 (refer to figure 14). An opening 15 131 is formed in beam 115 to enable a bolt to pass therethrough. The top intermediate connectors 130 include mounting bracket 132. The mounting brackets 132 may comprise an ear or tab 134. The ear has an opening 136. In order to connect the beam 115 to the top hat section 34 (see figure 19), the beam 115 is 20 inserted into the top hat section 34. The bottom of beam 115 is connected as shown in figure 14. Bolt 138 is passed through aligned openings in top hat section 34 and through opening 131 in beam 115. The bolt and associated nuts firmly connects the upper part of beam 115 to the top hat section 34. Again, this is shown in figure 19. 25 In order to complete the transportation configuration of the transportable building, a roofing panel 126 is positioned as shown in figure 20 and a tie member 138 is connected by bolt 140 to the mounting bracket 132. A similar top intermediate connector to that carried by beam 115 is mounted to the top hat section 34C that is attached to the third floor portion 26 and the other end of tie member 138 is connected to that top intermediate connector in order to firmly 30 hold the top parts of the floor portions 24, 26 in position in the transportation configuration.

23 When the various connectors shown in figures 11 to 20 are connected, the rigid frames 64, 66, as shown in figure 9, are formed in the container that forms the transportable building in the transportable configuration. This acts to rigidly hold the transportable building in the container configuration and to transfer downloads through the structure as is required for 5 stacking containers during transportation or storage.. Figure 21 shows a transportable building in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in a partly unfolded form. The transportable building shown in figure 21 includes the flooring portions 22, 24 and 26 as shown in figure 3. The flooring portion 24 has building 10 sidewalls 140 hinged there to. Similarly, flooring portion 26 has building sidewalls 142 hinged there to. The building sidewalls 140, 142 are hinged to their respective flooring portions 24, 26 in a manner such that the building sidewalls can be folded flat against their respective flooring sections. This is as shown in figure 21. The building sidewalls can simply be pivoted about the hinges to place them into a generally vertical position in the erected 15 building. The transportable building shown in figure 21 also includes prefabricated rooms 144, 146. The prefabricated rooms 144, 146 are fixedly mounted to the first flooring portion 22. When the building is configured in the transportable configuration, the end walls of the 20 prefabricated rooms 144, 146 form the end walls of the container. Also shown in figure 20 are the top corner connectors 120 (which includes the beams 95) and the beams 115 that include the top intermediate connectors 130. The beam 95 is inserted into the top hat section 32 (and connected to that top hat section by bolts). Similarly, the beam 25 115 is inserted into top hat section 34 and connected to that top hat section by bolts. Once the assembly of the component shown in figure 21 has taken place, the third floor portion 26 and its associated building sidewalls 142 are folded upwardly. The lifting blocks 122 that are positioned at the top corners may be used to assist in lifting the third floor 30 portion and building sidewall 142 using conventional lifting apparatus. The building then adopts the configuration shown in figure 22.

24 All of the building components required to complete the building are flat packed in bales and stored within the container, as shown in figure 23. For example, the other components required to complete the building may be stored in the space between prefabricated room 144 5 and prefabricated room 146, as well as in rooms 144, 146. The flat packed components, generally referred to by reference numeral 148, may include roofing panels, internal walls and partitions, building fittings, toilets, sinks, whitegoods, decking, stairs and the like. It is a particular benefit of some embodiments of the present invention that all of the building components can be packed into the container that is formed when the transportable building 10 is in the transportable configuration. This minimises handling and transportation costs and also minimises the likelihood of building components going missing. The next step in the manufacture of the transportable building involves folding up the second floor portion 24, as shown in figure 24. Again, the lifting blocks at the top of the second floor 15 portion 24 may be used to facilitate raising of the second floor portion from the position shown in figure 21 to the position shown in figure 24. Roofing panels 150 are then lowered into position in order to form the roof of the container. Tie members 138 are positioned across the roof and connected to the respective top connectors in order to tie the sidewalls of the container together. 20 The next step required to complete placing the transport building into the transportable configuration is shown in figure 25. In this step, base corner connectors 72 and 88 are inserted into top hat section 32B. Similarly, base intermediate connectors 98 and 114 (not shown) are inserted into the top hat sections that are located away from the ends of the 25 second floor portion 22. Bolts are used to connect the beams of the base intermediate connectors and base corner connectors to their respective top hat sections. The transportable building 20 in its fully folded, transportable configuration is shown in figure 26. As mentioned previously, the use of beams having connectors that are inserted into 30 the top hat sections and connected to the top hat sections ensures that a strong, rigid container structure is obtained whilst also avoiding the requirement to have a heavy steel frame 25 extending along all of the edges of the container. The tie members act to hold the tops of the sidewalls of the container in position. Figures 27A to 27E show, in simplified form, the various steps required to move the 5 transportable building from the container configuration/transportable configuration 20 (shown in figure 27A) to the erected configuration/built configuration (shown in figure 27E). The transportable building shown in these figures includes folding bathrooms or other rooms that can fold. The initial step involves placing the container 20 onto screw piles 160 or other footings that are located at the required positions in the ground. The flooring portion 22 rests 10 on its respective screw piles 160. The tie members 138 and roof panels are then removed from the container. The flooring portions 24, 26 are folded downwardly until they rest on respective screw piles 162, 164. This is shown in figure 27B. The flat packed components 148 are removed from the building. This is shown in figure 27C. The building shown in figure 27A to 27E includes prefabricated rooms 170, 172 that are hinged to the first floor 15 portion 22. These rooms 170, 172 may then be folded outwardly, again as shown in figure 27C. The sidewalls 140 are folded upwardly about the hinge points (see figure 27D) and propped in place. The internal walls, ceiling and roof are then constructed and the erected house 180, 20 as shown in figure 27E, is then completed. Figures 28 to 33 show more detailed views of the erection process. The building shown in these figures includes two fixed prefabricated rooms. In figure 28, the container 20 (which comprises the transportable building in its transportable configuration) is delivered to its 25 building site by a truck 190. Advantageously, truck 190 has a standard trailer that would normally be used to carry standard ISO shipping containers. Due to the relatively low weight of the transportable building, a forklift 192 may be used to lift the container 20 off the truck 190. Similarly, if the container 20 is to be transported to a remote area location, the container 20 is sufficiently light so that it may be moved to the remote area site by a helicopter. 30 Transportable buildings in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can typically have a weight that is between one quarter to one half of the weight of a conventional 26 foldable building that is based upon a shipping container. For example, the transportable building in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may weigh between 6 tonnes and 12 tonnes, which is considering lighter than conventional foldable buildings. 5 The forklift 192 lifts the container 20 off the back of truck 190 and places it on screw piles 160. This is shown in figure 29. It will be appreciated that other footing systems may also be used. Further, the container 20 may be stored on site until needed. Once the container 20 has been positioned and secured to the footings, the base corner 10 connectors and the base intermediate connectors may be unbolted from their respective top hat sections and removed. The roof panels of the container 20 are removed and the tie members are also removed. The hinged sides of the container are folded down onto the footings to create the floor, exposing 15 the flat packed bales of material 148 stored within the container. This is shown in figure of 30. Advantageously, the forklift 192 may be used to facilitate folding down of the sides of the container 20 until the third floor portion 26 is generally parallel with or coplanar with the first floor portion 22. The top lifting blocks may be used as a convenient connection point for connecting the arm of the forklift 192 to the sides of the container to enable the sides of the 20 container to be safely and quickly lowered to the configuration shown in figure 30. The other side wall is folded down (refer to figure 31). The top connectors and their associated beams may be unbolted from their respective top hat sections and removed at this stage. However, if additional strength is required, the beams may be retained within their respective top hat sections or replaced with alternative beams. The flatpack bales containing the balance of the 25 building components required to complete the building are unloaded and stored on site. Some embodiments of the building may have bathrooms and services prebuilt into the central core design. The prefabricated hinged sidewalls 140, 142 are folded upwardly and braced with perpendicular wall panels (see figure 32). Again, the forklift 192 may be used to fold up the sidewalls of the building. The balance of the internal and external walls are then installed 30 using known construction techniques. In some embodiments, the plumbing and electrical connections for the kitchen fittings are prefabricated within the common bathroom wall, 27 allowing for quick and simple site connection. The building in its almost completely erected state is shown in figure 33. All that needs to be done to the building shown in figure 33 is installation of the roof. 5 Figure 34 shows another embodiment of a transportable building in accordance with the present invention. In figure 34, two prefabricated rooms 170, 172 are hinged to the first floor portion 22. The floor 200 of room 170 forms an end wall of the container 20 when the transportable building is in the transportable configuration. Similarly, the floor 202 of room 172 forms the other end wall of the container 20 when the transportable building is in the 10 transportable configuration. Room 170 comprises the floor 200 and four side walls 204, 206, 208 and 210. It will be understood that the sidewalls 204, 206, 208 and 210 of the room 170 are all positioned generally perpendicular to floor 200. Furthermore, the relative positioning between the floor 15 200 and the sidewalls 204, 206, 208, 210 is maintained during transport and erection of the building. The floor 200 of building 170 is positioned on footings 222. Room 170 may comprise a bathroom that is fully fitted with plumbing, toilets, showers, sinks and cabinetry, or a kitchen that is also fully equipped. It will be appreciated that providing a prefabricated hinged room, such as room 170 or 172, allows for an increased floor space in the building 20 when the building is in the built configuration. Furthermore, the prefabricated rooms can be easily erected by simply folding them about their hinges until the floor of the prefabricated room rests on the pre-installed footings. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be susceptible to 25 variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It will be understood that the present invention encompasses all such variations and modifications that fall within its spirit and scope.

Claims

1. A transportable building comprising: - a first floor portion, - a second floor portion hingedly connected to the first floor portion; - the second floor portion comprising a floor having at least one bearer connected to an underneath part of the floor, - wherein the building can be configured in a transportable configuration in which the second floor portion is positioned generally perpendicularly to the first floor portion and the building can be configured in a built configuration in which the second floor portion extends generally parallel to or co-planar with the first floor portion, - wherein in the transportable configuration, the bearer comprises an elongate member having an open section or a hollow section and a beam positioned in the elongate member, the beam being removable from the elongate member, the beam having an end that extends out beyond an end of the elongate member, a transport connector being connected to the end of the beam.

2. A transportable building as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in the transportable configuration, the bearer comprises an elongate member having an open section or a hollow section and a beam positioned in the elongate member, the beam being removably connected to the elongate member.

3. A transportable building as claimed in claim 2 wherein the elongate member is connected to the underneath part of the floor of the second floor portion and the beam is positioned inside the elongate member in the transportable configuration, an end of the beam with a transport connector thereon extending out of the elongate member.

4. A transportable building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein one or more of the beams carry a mounting bracket for connecting another beam thereto. 29

5. A transportable building as claimed in claim 4 wherein the mounting bracket connects another beam thereto in a fixed positional relationship.

6. A transportable building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein one or more of the beams carry a tie member mounting bracket to enable a tie member to be connected thereto.

7. A transportable building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising one or more further floor portions hingedly connected to the first floor portion, the one or more further floor portions extending generally perpendicularly to the first floor portion when the building is configured in its transportable configuration and the one or more further floor portions extending generally parallel to or coplanar with the first floor portion when the building is in its built configuration.

8. A transportable building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the floor of the building (in its built configuration) comprises a plurality of flooring panels.

9. A transportable building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one elongate member having an open section or a hollow section comprises a top hat section or a C-section or a hollow section, such as a hollow rectangular or square section, that provides a closed cross-sectional surface but also includes a hollow region that can receive a beam.

10. A transportable building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of elongate members having an open section or a hollow section are positioned underneath the first floor portion, the second floor portion and any further floor portions.

11. A transportable building as claimed in claim 10 wherein the elongate members define a box section when they are connected to the floor.

12. A transportable building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a beam is positioned in each of the elongate members. 30

13. A transportable building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each beam is removably connected to a respective elongate member

14. A transportable building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the beam that is positioned within the open section or hollow section member comprises a rectangular section beam, a square section beam, an I-section beam or a C-section or U section beam.

15. A transportable building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the beams that extend to upper corners of the building when the building is in the transportable configuration are provided with transportation connectors.

16. A transportable building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein one or more tie members are connected across the top of the roof of the building when it is in its transportable configuration in order to securely tie opposite sides of the container together.

17. A transportable building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the building, in its transportable configuration, comprises a plurality of spaced rectangular or square frames,the rectangular or square frames comprising transverse frames.

18. A transportable building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein side walls of the building are hingedly connected to respective floor portions.

19. A transportable building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising one or more rooms hingedly connected to the first floor portion.