GB2262752A - "portable building construction" - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable building construction comprising at least one building module e.g. 20 having secured thereto 50 as to extend exteriorly thereof, a walkway, (40, Fig. 2, not shown) comprising a framework with at least generally horizontal docking supported thereby, the framework comprising two or more framework members (45, 46) which extend outwardly of a side of the docking, the outwardly extending framework members being adapted to be secured to the building module in cantilever fashion. The walkway may have a hand rail means at a side of the walkway remote from the building module. The building module has a plurality of legs (33, 34) on which the building module may rest, and the walkway is adapted to be removably secured to at least two of the load bearing legs. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Portable building construction" Description of Invention This invention relates to a portable building construction.

It is known practice to locate side by side a plurality of building modules so as to provide a portable building construction having a plurality of separate rooms, side walls of the building modules providing dividing walls between the rooms.

When it is desired to provide communication between two rooms in adjacent building modules, currently it is necessary to provide a door opening in side walls of adjacent building modules, which is a labour intensive operation, and if necessary, to fabricate a linking means to extend between the building modules.

Also, where communication is required between two such building modules, which are separated from one another by a third intermediate building module, it is necessary to provide a corridor within the intermediate building module so as to maintain some privacy in the room or rooms of the intermediate building module. Such corridors obviously take up floor space.

According to the invention we provide a portable building construction comprising at least one building module having secured thereto so as to extend exteriorly thereof, a walkway.

Thus it is not necessary to provide door openings in side walls of adjacent building modules, as communication between building modules can be achieved by way of the walkway. Further, there is no need to provide any corridor within any intermediate building module.

The walkway may comprise a framework with at least generally horizontal decking supported thereby, and the framework may comprise two or more framework members which extend outwardly of a side of the decking, the outwardly extending framework members being adapted to be preferably releasably secured, to the building module. Preferably, the outwardly extending members extend beneath the building module or are at least located exteriorly of the building module so as to not to provide any obstruction within any room of the building module.

Thus in a preferred arrangement, the walkway is supported by the building module in cantilever fashion.

The walkway may include means to enable handrail means to be provided at a side of the walkway remote from the building module. The hand rail means are preferably releasably attached to the walkway and may comprise a plurality of generally upright posts which are secured at their lower ends to the walkway. The handrail means may further comprise a plurality of generally transverse members extending between and being connected to the posts such that the handrail means is of a framework construction.

Additionally or alternatively, the handrail means may comprise at least in part, panels which are connected to the posts, for example adjacent the decking, to provide kick boards.

The building module of the portable building construction is preferably of the kind having a plurality of generally upright load bearing struts which serve as legs on which the building module rests, in which case, the walkway may be adapted to be removably secured to at least two of the load bearing struts.

The building module may be generally rectangular in plan view with one or more such load bearing struts being provided on opposite sides thereof, the walkway being secured to the struts so as to extend along a side of the building module intermediate the two opposite sides on which the load bearing struts are provided.

Where the walkway comprises outwardly extending framework members, the members may each include first bracket means which in use are bolted or otherwise releasably fastened to load bearing struts, and if desired, further bracket means which may in use be bolted or otherwise releasably secured to a side wall of the building module.

The building module may be a prefabricated building of the kind which is fully factory assembled ready for delivery to a prepared site in an assembled condition complete with roof, floor and walls, and preferably all necessary doors and windows and internal fittings in which case the walkway may be removably secured to the building module either in the factory, or on site as required.

Alternatively, the portable building may be a building of the kind which is transported in a compact pack ready for erection when delivered to a suitable site, or further alternatively, the building module may be of the kind which is only partially factory assembled, assembly being completed on site.

Preferably the portable building construction comprises a plurality of building modules located side by side and each building module having a walkway, thereby to provide a construction having a plurality of separate rooms, communication between the building modules being provided by way of the walkways of the building modules. Preferably the walkways each extend along substantially the entire side of their respective building modules.

Where a building module is adapted to be supported in an elevated position above the ground, for example on or at least above a further building module of the construction, the portable building construction may include a stairway extending from the ground to a position where it communicates with a walkway of the elevated building module. The stairway may comprise one or more flights of steps.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective illustrative view of a portable building construction in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a walkway of a building module of the construction of Figure 1 showing at the left hand side, one embodiment, and at the right hand side an alternative embodiment, FIGURE 3 is a side view of a hand rail means attached to the walkway of Figure 2, FIGURE 4 is a side view of an alternative hand rail means for use with the walkway of Figure 2, FIGURE 5a is an enlarged section on the line A-A of Figure 2, FIGURE 5 is an end view of the section of Figure Sa.

FIGURE 6a is an enlarged section on the line B-B of Figure 2.

FIGURE 6b is an end view on the section of Figure 6 FIGURE 7 is an enlarged section on the line C-C of Figure 2, FIGURE 8 is a side view of a hand rail means component for use with the walkway of Figure 2, FIGURE 9 is a side view of another hand rail means component for use with the walkway of Figure 2, FIGURE 10 is an enlarged section on the line D-D of Figure 2, FIGURE 11 is an enlarged section on the line E-E of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, a portable building construction comprises a plurality of building modules 10-12 arranged side by side to provide a ground floor of the building construction, further building modules 13-15 being arranged side by side and spaced above the ground, stacked on top of the modules 10-12, to provide a first floor of the building construction and three further modules 1618 are stacked side by side on top of the building modules 13-15 to provide a second floor of the building construction In this example, each of the building modules 10-18 comprises a self contained unit which provides at least one room of the building construction, and each building module 10-18 has at least one door 20 to provide access to the respective rooms of the building modules 10-18.

At one end 19 of the building construction, a stairway 21 is provided which comprises two flights of stairs 22 and 23 from the ground to the first floor modules 13-15 as hereinafter described, and two further flights of stairs 24-25 which extend from the first floor modules 13-15 to the second floor modules 1618.

In this example, each of the building modules 10-18 comprises a prefabricated building of the kind which is fully factory assembled and designed for delivery to a prepared site in an assembled condition, complete with roof 26, and four outside walls 28 to 31 (indicated on module 16 only, in figure 1, and floor 27 indicated on module 10 only) with all necessary doors 20, windows 32 (indicated on module 16 only) and internal fittings, including any internal dividing walls and communicating doors where required.

One example of such a building module is described in detail in our earlier Patent No. 2092640.

The building modules 10-18 each have four upright load bearing struts, two of which are indicated only, for building modules 10, 13 and 16 in Figure 1, on side walls 28, at 33 and 34, although it will be appreciated that each of the building modules 10,13 and 16 will have two further such struts provided at corresponding positions on an opposite side wall 30. Further, it will be appreciated that the other modules 11,12,14,15,17,18, will each have four further such struts provided in substantially similar positions to those described for units 10,13 and 16.

The load bearing struts 33,34, are preferably of the telescopic kind, and extend over the entire height of the building modules 10-18, and beneath their respective building module, the struts 33,34, each comprising an outer telescoped member 76 having at its upper end, a flange 35, and an inner telescoped member 77 having at its lower end, a further flange 36 to facilitate the stacking of the building modules 10-18 as in the portable building construction shown in figure 1.

Referring particularly to figures 2 to 11, each building module 10 to 18 is provided with a walkway 40 to provide communication between doors 20 of the building modules 10 to 12 of the ground floor, the doors 20 of the modules 13 to 15 of the first floor, and doors 20 of the modules 16 to 18 of the second floor.

Each walkway 40 comprises a framework having a pair of generally longitudinal members 41,42, and a plurality of cross struts 43, the framework members 41-43 supporting decking 44.

From beneath the decking 44, secured to the longitudinal members 41,42, are a pair of outwardly extending arms 45,46, which enable the walkway 40 to be releasably secured in cantilever fashion to an associated building module 1018.

In practice, the arms 45,46, would be identical but oppositely handed, but in figure 2, the arm 45 is shown configured suitably for securing the walkway 40 to any one of the portable building modules 10-18 shown in figure 1, although arm 46 is alternatively configured such that it is suitable for securing the walkway 40 to a building module of an alternative size.

Arm 45 in use extends beneath the associated building module 10-18 and carries adjacent its outer end, a bracket 48 which is identical to a bracket 48a carried on arm 46, the brackets 48, 48a being best seen in figures 6a and 6 which brackets 48 48a are in use bolted or otherwise fastened to the respective arm 45,46, and to a respective side wall 28,30 of the associated building module 10-18.

Closer adjacent to the decking 44, the arm 45 carries a further bracket means 50 which comprises a first angle bracket 51, one leg of which is welded, or bolted or fastened to the arm 45, and the other leg of which is in use bolted, pinned, or otherwise releasably secured to the upright strut 33, and a second angle bracket 52, one leg of which is welded or bolted or otherwise fastened to the arm 45, and the other leg of which is in use pinned, bolted or otherwise releasably secured to the upright strut 33, such that the upright strut 33 is received between the brackets 51 and 52.

In addition, the arm 45 carries a third bracket 70 which is, in use, welded or otherwise fastened to the arm 45 and bolted or otherwise fastened to the wall 31 and floor 27 of the associated module 10-18.

The arm 46 is shown carrying at a position adjacent its outermost end, a bracket means 50a similar to the bracket means 50, and consisting of a pair of Shaped brackets 51a and 52a which may be generally identical to brackets 51 and 52 and are intended to be secured to the load bearing strut of side 30 of the associated portable building, opposite strut 33, the strut being located between the brackets 51a and 52a.

It can be seen that the arms 45,46, are in this example of box section although they could be of an alternative suitable section if desired. Further, longitudinal framework members 41,42, are generally of C section but could be of an alternative suitable section if required.

Preferably the framework members 41-43 and the arms 45,46, are all made of metal, whilst the decking 44 is made of plywood or the like, although the decking 44 could be made of metal if desired.

The walkway 40 is adapted to carry a handrail means which is indicated generally in figure 3 at 60. The handrail means 60 comprises a plurality of upright posts 61 each of which has at its lowermost end 62, a short flat bar 63 which extends laterally of the respective post 61, the bar 63 in use being bolted or otherwise releasably fixed to the walkway 40, in this example to longitudinal framework member 41 of the walkway 40.

The handrail means 60 further comprises a knee rail 64 which extends generally perpendicularly to and is fixed to the posts 61 intermediate the ends thereof, and a handrail 65 which also extends generally perpendicularly to and is fixed relative to the posts 61 at the upper end of the parts 61.

The handrail means 60 extends in the figure 3 example, over the full length of the walkway 40 which extends generally along substantially the entire length of the side 31 of each portable building module 10 to 18.

However, referring to figure 4, there is shown a shortened handrail means indicated generally at 60 , which, if secured alongside a walkway 40 of side 31, of any of the building modules 10 to 18, would leave a gap at one or other end. Such a shortened handrail means 60a may be used to provide an opening for example, for a stairway to communicate with the walkway 40 to which it is secured or for ground floor level access in the case of a ground floor building module.

The walkway 40 may be closed at one end by means of an end knee rail 64a which is shown in figure 8, and an end hand rail such as shown at 65a in figure 9.

The end knee rail 64a and end hand rail 65a have at either end thereof, downwardly depending spigots 66,67 respectively, one spigot of each rail 64a, 65X, being received in respective sockets 68,69, attached to the end post 61 of hand rail assembly 60, or end posts 61a of the handrail assembly 60a of figure 4, so as to extend generally perpendicularly to adjacent knee rail 64 and handrail 65 of the handrail means 60, 60a.

The spigots 66,67, at the opposite ends of the end knee rail 64a and end handrail 65a respectively, are received by sockets on an auxiliary post 78. The post 78 is releasably secured to longitudinal member 42 of the walkway 40 in a similar manner to that used to secure posts 61 to longitudinal member 41.

It will be appreciated that when a walkway 40 is provided on each of two adjacent building modules such as building modules 16 and 17, in which there would be a gap between the adjacent building modules 16 and 17 to accommodate outwardly extending struts 33,34, only a small gap would be provided between the decking 44 of adjacent walkways 40 sufficient only to compensate for normal manufacturing and siting tolerances.

Where the building modules 10 to 18 are each of the type which are fully factory assembled and prepared for delivery to a prepared site, the walkways 40 may be releasably secured to the respective building module 10-18 in the factory.

Preferably though, the walkway 40 is secured to the respective building module 10-18 on site.

To this end, preferably the outwardly extending arms 45 and 46 are separable from the remainder of the walkway 40 to enable the arms 45 and 46 to be secured to the building module 10-18 as described above, using the brackets 48, 48a, 50, 50g, and then the remainder of the walkway 40 including the decking 44, is secured to the outwardly extending arms by means of four bolts 74, which are received by angle brackets 75 which are permanently secured to the outwardly extending arms 45,46 as best seen in figure 7.

Preferably each of the building modules 13 to 18 have their respective walkways 40 secured thereto whilst the respective building module 13-18 is on the ground, and thereafter, the building module 13-18 is hoisted into the stacked position as described.

The outer members 76 of the load bearing struts are secured to the respective side 28,30, of the associated building module 10-18.

The inner telescoped members 77 may be extended solely to enable the respective building module 10-18 to be removed from the back of a lorry for example, and thereafter, the inner members 77 are telescoped inwardly of their outer members 76 such that when the walkway 40 is secured to the respective building module 10-18, securing the brackets 50 and 53 to the load bearing struts 33 does not interfere with any function of the load bearing struts 33 are subsequently required to perform.

Where the walkways 40 are secured to the respective building modules 10-18 in a factory, the load bearing struts 33,34, could not thereafter be used to facilitate removal of the building from a lorry, but rather such building module 10-18 would need to be hoisted from the back of the lorry and placed in position without extending inner members 77 of the load bearing struts 33,34.

Alternatively, instead of brackets 50,50a described, other brackets could be provided which would permit use of telescopic struts 33,34, to facilitate removal of each of the building modules 10-18 from the back of a lorry.

As indicated in figure 1, the walkways of the ground and first floors of the building construction open at both ends, at one end to give access to the stairway 21, and at the other end, to permit communication with doors of further, different types of building modules which are indicated at 80, although the second floor walkway 40 is closed by the end knee rail 64a and end hand rail 65a as described above.

Many modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the handrail means 60 and 60a which are described are only examples of hand rail means which may be used with the walkways 40 of the portable building construction in accordance with the invention. Alternative configurations of hand rail means may be provided, preferably releasably secured to the associated walkway by means of a minimum number of common fixing points on the walkway members 41,42,43. Thus changes to the configuration of the hand rail means may readily be carried out without the necessity of additional fixing points.

In another example, if desired, the walkways may be enclosed by panels which extend between upright posts of the walkways. In the example shown in figure 3 of the drawings, a kick board 82 is provided adjacent the decking 44 which is an essential requirement, particularly where the invention is to be applied to a portable building construction for a building site.

Although the invention has been described with reference to building modules 10-18 of the type which are fully factory assembled before being delivered to a prepared site, the invention may equally be applied to a portable building construction comprising modules which are delivered in a collapsed state, for example, in a flat pack, or in a partially assembled state only and where finishing of the building modules is carried out on site.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (29)

CLAIMS:

1. A portable building construction comprising at least one building module having secured thereto so as to extend exteriorly thereof, a walkway.

2. A construction according to claim 1 wherein the walkway comprises a framework with at least generally horizontal decking supported thereby.

3. A construction according to claim 2 wherein the framework comprises two or more framework members which extend outwardly of a side of the decking, the outwardly extending framework members being adapted to be secured, to the building module.

4. A construction according to claim 3 wherein the outwardly extending framework members are adapted to be releasably secured to the building module.

5. A construction according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the outwardly extending members are located exteriorly of the building module so as to not to provide any obstruction within any room of the building module.

6. A construction according to claim 5 wherein the outwardly extending members extend beneath the building module.

7. A construction according to any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the walkway is supported by the building module in cantilever fashion.

8. A construction according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the walkway includes means to enable handrail means to be provided at a side of the walkway remote from the building module.

9. A construction according to claim 8 wherein the hand rail means are releasably attached to the walkway.

10. A construction according to claim 9 wherein the hand rail means comprises a plurality of generally upright posts which are secured at their lower ends to the walkway.

11. A construction according to claim 10 wherein the handrail means further comprises a plurality of generally transverse members extending between and being connected to the posts such that the handrail means is of a framework construction.

12. A construction according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the handrail means comprises, at least in part, panels which are connected to the posts, to provide kick boards.

13. A construction according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the building module of the portable building construction has a plurality of generally upright load bearing struts which serve as legs on which the building module may rest, and the walkway is adapted to be removably secured to at least two of the load bearing struts.

14. A construction according to claim 13 wherein the building module is generally rectangular in plan view with one or more such load bearing struts being provided on opposite sides thereof, the walkway being secured to the struts so as to extend along a side of the building module intermediate the two opposite sides on which the load bearing struts are provided.

15. A construction according to claim 13 or claim 14 when dependent directly or indirectly on claim 3 wherein the outwardly extending framework members may each include first bracket means which in use are releasably fastened to load bearing struts.

16. A construction according to claim 15 wherein further bracket means may be provided which in use are releasably secured to a side wall of the building module.

17. A construction according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the building module is a prefabricated building of the kind which is fully factory assembled ready for delivery to a prepared site in an assembled condition complete with roof, floor and walls, and preferably all necessary doors and windows and internal fittings.

18. A construction according to any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein the building module is of the kind which is only partially factory assembled, assembly being completed on site

19. A construction according to any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein the building module is a building of the kind which is transported in a compact pack ready for erection when delivered to a suitable site.

20. A construction according to claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the walkway has been removably secured to the building module in the factory.

21. A construction according to claim 18 or claim 19 wherein the walkway has been removably secured to the building on site.

22. A construction according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the portable building construction comprises a plurality of building modules located side by side and each building module having a walkway, thereby to provide a construction having a plurality of separate rooms, communication between the building modules being provided by way of the walkways of the building modules.

23. A construction according to claim 22 wherein the walkways each extend along at least substantially the entire side of their respective building modules.

24. A construction according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a building module is adapted to be supported in an elevated position above the ground.

25. A construction according to claim 24 wherein the portable building construction includes a stairway extending from the ground to a position where it communicates with a walkway of the elevated building module.

26. A construction according to claim 24 or claim 25 wherein the building module is supported in said elevated position on or at least above a further building module of the construction.

27. A construction according to any one of claims 24 to 26 wherein the stairway comprises one or more flights of steps.

28. A building construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

29. Any novel feature or novel combination of feature disclosed herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.