GB1565500A - Portable buildings - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO PORTABLE BUILDINGS (71) We, PORTAKABIN LIMITED, a British Company of Huntington, North Yorkshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the fol Vowing statement:- This invention relates to portable buildings of the kind which are intended to be transported in a compact pack ready for erection when delivered to a suitable site.

More particularly, the invention is concerned with building constructions formed from one or more units each of which is potentially a complete building with roof, floor and walls, preferably complete with all necessary doors and windows, with appropriate means for assembling such units together if required to form two or more such units into a multi-unit building. Whilst each unit would normally be provided with four walls, under some circumstances one or both end walls, or one or both side walls, may be omitted entirely to enable the units to be joined end-to-end or side-by-side without the interposition of even a partial dividing wall.

It is an object of the present invention to provide such building units in the form of a readily transportable pack incorporating all necessary parts.

According to the invention we provide combination of a portable building unit and a plurality of supporting legs, the building unit, comprising a floor structure and a roof structure each having a first connecting means and at least one wall structure in the form of a knocked down pack, wherein the wall structure lies between the floor structure and the roof structure which latter structures are releasably secured together by means of brackets having second connecting means engaged with said first connecting means, the brackets comprising an upper part secured to the roof structure and a lower part secured to the floor structure, the entire pack being liftable, by means of said brackets for transportation whereby at least the roof structure by means of said brackets after the brackets have been disconnected from the floor structure, and the supporting legs having third connecting means engageable with said first connecting means of the roof structure and the floor structure when the brackets are removed and the building unit is erected, thus enabling the building to be supported on the legs.

The legs may be telescopic and be adapted to be jacked up when they are in position so that the entire building may be lifted clear of the ground and the units supported by the legs.

The floor structure may include longitudinally extending beams supporting the floor proper, the brackets in the pack being secured to said longitudinally beams either directly or through intermediate spacer elements rather than through the floor proper.

The arrangement and configuration of the brackets is further described and claimed in our co-pending application No. 40287/75 (Serial No. 1565498).

The beams may extend longitudinally along the floor proper and vertical frame works may be secured to the projecting ends of the beams to provide means for enabling the packs to be stacked on one upon the other.

One or more of the wall structures of the building unit may be secured to the roof structure by flexible connecting means extending between an upper region of each such wall structure and an adjacent edge of the roof structure so that when the roof structure is lifted by said means of lifting brackets, the wall structures are simultaneously lifted by said flexible members to vertical positions substantially coincident with the edges of the floor structure ready for securing to the latter.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a single embodiment of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a knocked down pack in end view; Figure 2 shows an end portion of the pack in side view; Figure 3 illustrates a stage in erection of the building from the pack; and Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the fully erected building unit.

The building unit in accordance with the invention incorporates a prefabricated roof structure 10, a prefabricated floor structure 20, prefabricated side wall structures 30 and 40, and two prefabricated end wall structures 50, only one of which is shown in the accompanying drawings.

The roof structure 10 incorporates vertically disposed longitudinal facia elements 11 and transverse facia elements 12 which add rigidity to the structure.

The floor structure 20 includes a flat floor proper 21 provided at its longitudinal edges 21a, and 21b with angle section members 22 on which the lower edges of the wall structures 30 and 40 are intended to rest. The floor structure 20 also includes a pair of longitudinally extending beams 23 which are secured together by means of cross-members not visible in the accompanying drawings, but similar to the cross-member 71 forming part of the frame structure 70 as hereinafter described.

The wall structures 30 and 40 are each complete with all necessary doors as shown at 4 and windows as shown at 42 in Figure 4.

Likewise, the end wall structures 50 are also provided with any necessary doors and windows as shown in 52.

In the pack, the end wall structures 50 are each laid separately on the floor structure 20 adjacent to the respective ends at which they are to be erected, and as shown they are conveniently arranged with their height extending transverse. The end wall structures 50 are secured in position on the floor structure 20 by means of angle section members 53 which are used subsequently for securing the end and side wall structures together at the corners of the unit.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the side wall structures 30 and 40 rest on one another on top of the end wall structures 50 and preferably strips of soft wood or the like are arranged to extend transversely between these structures in order to prevent damage thereto.

The side and end wall structure are arranged with their outer faces downwards and the side wall structures 30 and 40 are secured to the roof structure 10 by means of flexible straps 33 and 43 extending between the upper edges of the wall structures and the upper edges of the facia elements 11 of the roof structure. The straps are secured at their ends to the inner faces of the wall structures and the facia members.

At two points along its length, each longitudinal facia element 11 is provided with anchorage points 13 (see Figure 4) for lifting brackets 60. Each lifting bracket 60 comprises an upper plate 61 which is bolted directly to the facia element 11 and terminates at its upper edge in an inturned flange 62. An inverted U-shaped stirrup 63 has its straight limbs welded to the edges of the upper plate 61 and is adapted to receive a lifting hook as indicated at 64 (Figure 3).

Each lifting bracket 60 further comprises a lower plate 65 which is bolted to a spacer member 66 in the form of a short length of square section tube secured to one of the longitudinal beams 23 of the floor structure.

For this purpose, the tube includes end plates formed with bolt holes. The outermost end plate also carries an angle section bar 67 secured to the underside of the angle section member 22 at the edge of the floor 21.

The lower plate 65 of the lifting bracket 60 is bolted to the outermost end plate of the spacer member 66 and at its upper end overlaps the upper plate 61 so as additionally to be secured to the roof structure 10 through the same bolts which secure the upper plate 61. At its lower end, the lower plate 65 is provided with an outwardly directed flange or foot 68 which is adapted to rest on the flange 62 of the upper plate of another similar bracket if the pack is stacked on top of a similar pack.

Such stacking of the packs is further facilitated by the framework 70 previously referred to. As can be seen from Figure 2, the longitudinal beams 23 of the floor structure include end portions which project endwise beyond the floor 21 and such portions are joined together by a transversely extending beam 71.

Each end portion of the beams 23 carries a pair of angle section plates 72 to which upright posts 73 are secured. Diagonal braces 74 extend between the posts 73 and the crossmember 71 to connect these together into a vertical framework. The posts 73 carry plates 75 at their upper ends and preferably such plates have upturned flanges at three of their edges so as to be adapted to receive and positively locate the projecting end portions of the longitudinal beams 23 of a superposed pack. The vertical frameworks 70 may normally be removed from the beams 23 after the unit has been erected.

For transport, the packs rest on the longitudinal beams 23 and the feet 68 of the lifting brackets, the whole pack being liftable by means of the stirrups 63. The vertical facia elements 11 and 12 obviate the necessity for using spreader bars between the slings used for this purpose. On delivery, the pack is placed in the desired position and then the lower plates 65 of the lifting bracket 60 are removed so that the pack is supported entirely by the longitudinal beams 23 whilst the upper plates 61 are re-connected to the roof structure. The roof structure 11 is then lifted by means of the stirrups 63 and, as shown in Figure 3, the side wall structures 30 and 40 are thus simultaneously lifted by means of the straps 33 and 34.The lower edge 35 of the side wall structure 30 slides over the upper most, inner face of the side wall structure 40 and at the saate time the lower edge of the side wall structure 40 slides in the opposite direction over the uppermost, inner face of the end wall structures 50. As mentioned previously, strips of soft wood may be interposed between the wall structures to facilitate this and protect them from damage. Where, as is normally the case, the width of the two end wall panels 50 is in combination less than the length of the floor 21, the space on the floor inbetween the two end wall panels would normally house transversely extending strips of wood or the like to support the middle portion of the side wall structure 40.

As the roof structure 10 is lifted, the side wall structures 30 and 40 automatically assume vertical positions substantially in alignment with the longitudinal edges of the floor 21 and due to the flexibility of the straps 33 and 43 they can readily be manoeuvred onto the angle members 22 and secured to the floor structure in this position. Thereafter, the end wall structures 50 can be removed from the base structure and because of their smaller size, quite readily lifted into position manually and then secured to the end edges of the floor structures and to the end edges of the side wall structures by means of the angle section members 53. The wall structures then form a rigid box and the roof structure 10 can be lowered into position with the facia elements 11 and 12 lying outwardly of the respective wall structures.

The upper plates 61 of the lifting bracket 60 can then be removed from the roof structure and should it be necessary to lift the entire building, this can be achieved by securing the upper plates 61 of the lifting brackets to the lower anchorage points afforded by the spacer members 66, the plates then being turned around so that the flanges 62 face outwardly.

With both the upper plates and the lower plates removed, the attachment points 13 and those afforded by the spacer members 66 can be used for the attachment of legs, by which the unit is supported from the ground.

The legs are preferably of telescopic form such as to enable the building to be jacked up after the legs are in position so that the longitudinal beams 23 are clear of the ground and the unit is supported entirely by the legs.

It will be understood that where the units are required to be joined directly in end-toend relation, it would not be possible for the beams 23 to project endwise as shown. In this case, provision of stacking the packs, if required, may be made entirely through the lifting bracket 60, or upright posts similar to the posts 70 could be supported at the ends of transversely extending members, similar to the spacer members 66, projecting outwardly of the lateral edges of the pack, such transverse members also affording respective foot elements similar to feet 68 to engage the head plate 75 at the upper end of each post 70 of a lower pack.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A combination of a portable building unit and a plurality of supporting legs, the building unit, comprising a floor structure and a roof structure each having first connecting means, and at least one wall structure in the form of a knocked down pack, wherein the wall structure lies between the floor structure and the roof structure which latter structures are releasably secured together by means of brackets having second connecting means engaged with first connecting means, the brackets comprising an upper part secured to the roof structure and a lower part secured to the floor structure, the entire pack being liftable by means of said brackets for transportation whereby at least the roof structure of the pack may be lifted relative to the floor structure by means of said brackets after the brackets have been disconnected from the floor structure, and the supporting legs having third connecting means engagable with said first connecting means of the roof structure and the floor structure when the brackets are removed and the building unit is erected, thus enabling the building to be supported on the legs.

2. A combination according to Claim 1 wherein the legs are telescopic and are adapted to be jacked up when they are in position so that the entire building may be lifted clear of the ground and the units supported entirely by the legs.

3. A combination according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the floor structure includes longitudinally extending beams supporting the floor proper, the brackets in the pack being secured to said longitudinal beams either directly or through intermediate spacer elements rather than through the floor proper.

4. A combination according to Claim 3 wherein the beams of the floor structure extend longitudinally along the floor (proper) and vertical frame works are secured to the projecting ends of the beams to provide means for enabling the packs to be stacked one upon the other.

5. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one or more of the wall structures of the building unit are secured to the roof structure by flexible connecting means extending between an upper region of each such wall structure and an adjacent edge of the roof structure so that when the roof structure is lifted by said means of lifting brackets, the wall structures are simultaneously lifted by said flexible members to vertical positions substantially coincident with the edges of the floor structure ready for securing to the latter.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. and at the saate time the lower edge of the side wall structure 40 slides in the opposite direction over the uppermost, inner face of the end wall structures 50. As mentioned previously, strips of soft wood may be interposed between the wall structures to facilitate this and protect them from damage. Where, as is normally the case, the width of the two end wall panels 50 is in combination less than the length of the floor 21, the space on the floor inbetween the two end wall panels would normally house transversely extending strips of wood or the like to support the middle portion of the side wall structure 40. As the roof structure 10 is lifted, the side wall structures 30 and 40 automatically assume vertical positions substantially in alignment with the longitudinal edges of the floor 21 and due to the flexibility of the straps 33 and 43 they can readily be manoeuvred onto the angle members 22 and secured to the floor structure in this position. Thereafter, the end wall structures 50 can be removed from the base structure and because of their smaller size, quite readily lifted into position manually and then secured to the end edges of the floor structures and to the end edges of the side wall structures by means of the angle section members 53. The wall structures then form a rigid box and the roof structure 10 can be lowered into position with the facia elements 11 and 12 lying outwardly of the respective wall structures. The upper plates 61 of the lifting bracket 60 can then be removed from the roof structure and should it be necessary to lift the entire building, this can be achieved by securing the upper plates 61 of the lifting brackets to the lower anchorage points afforded by the spacer members 66, the plates then being turned around so that the flanges 62 face outwardly. With both the upper plates and the lower plates removed, the attachment points 13 and those afforded by the spacer members 66 can be used for the attachment of legs, by which the unit is supported from the ground. The legs are preferably of telescopic form such as to enable the building to be jacked up after the legs are in position so that the longitudinal beams 23 are clear of the ground and the unit is supported entirely by the legs. It will be understood that where the units are required to be joined directly in end-toend relation, it would not be possible for the beams 23 to project endwise as shown. In this case, provision of stacking the packs, if required, may be made entirely through the lifting bracket 60, or upright posts similar to the posts 70 could be supported at the ends of transversely extending members, similar to the spacer members 66, projecting outwardly of the lateral edges of the pack, such transverse members also affording respective foot elements similar to feet 68 to engage the head plate 75 at the upper end of each post 70 of a lower pack. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A combination of a portable building unit and a plurality of supporting legs, the building unit, comprising a floor structure and a roof structure each having first connecting means, and at least one wall structure in the form of a knocked down pack, wherein the wall structure lies between the floor structure and the roof structure which latter structures are releasably secured together by means of brackets having second connecting means engaged with first connecting means, the brackets comprising an upper part secured to the roof structure and a lower part secured to the floor structure, the entire pack being liftable by means of said brackets for transportation whereby at least the roof structure of the pack may be lifted relative to the floor structure by means of said brackets after the brackets have been disconnected from the floor structure, and the supporting legs having third connecting means engagable with said first connecting means of the roof structure and the floor structure when the brackets are removed and the building unit is erected, thus enabling the building to be supported on the legs.

2. A combination according to Claim 1 wherein the legs are telescopic and are adapted to be jacked up when they are in position so that the entire building may be lifted clear of the ground and the units supported entirely by the legs.

3. A combination according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the floor structure includes longitudinally extending beams supporting the floor proper, the brackets in the pack being secured to said longitudinal beams either directly or through intermediate spacer elements rather than through the floor proper.

4. A combination according to Claim 3 wherein the beams of the floor structure extend longitudinally along the floor (proper) and vertical frame works are secured to the projecting ends of the beams to provide means for enabling the packs to be stacked one upon the other.

5. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one or more of the wall structures of the building unit are secured to the roof structure by flexible connecting means extending between an upper region of each such wall structure and an adjacent edge of the roof structure so that when the roof structure is lifted by said means of lifting brackets, the wall structures are simultaneously lifted by said flexible members to vertical positions substantially coincident with the edges of the floor structure ready for securing to the latter.