WO2014081347A2

WO2014081347A2 - Set of flanged panels and collapsible modular building structure

Info

Publication number: WO2014081347A2
Application number: PCT/RU2013/001045
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vadim Vadimovich CONDRUSHEV
Original assignee: Condrushev Vadim Vadimovich
Priority date: 2012-11-22
Filing date: 2013-11-22
Publication date: 2014-05-30
Also published as: CN104854284B; CN104854284A; WO2014081347A3

Abstract

A set of flanged panels wherein each of the panels has a side matable with a side of another panel. The mating side of one panel is shorter than a mating side of the other panel, so that the panel having the shorter mating side can be tilted at an angle with respect to the panel having the longer mating side and fitted between the flanges thereof. Further claimed is a collapsible modular building structure comprising walls and a roof. Panels in the roof and panels in one the walls are mated with each other at an interface between the roof and the wall, so that a mating side in one mated panels is shorter than a mating side in the other mated panel so as the panel having the shorter mating side is fitted between the flanges of the panel having the longer mating side.

Description

SET OF FLANGED PANELS*AND COLLAPSIBLE MODULAR BUILDING

STRUCTURE

FIELD

The invention generally relates to the field of building construction, and more particularly to a set of flanged panels and collapsible modular building structure which can be transported to a desired location and quickly and easily assembled and disassembled on site, e.g. for use as a cozy suburban and/or gardening housing.

BACKGROUND

It is desirable for many applications to provide dwelling facilities for temporary or permanent accommodation, which are collapsible for easy storage and transportation.

Recently, rapid population expansion and need to increase population density in cities have led to the development of modular buildings structures consisting of components known as modules. It was found that the principle of modularity can be advantageously used for constructing both large and small buildings. Particularly, it is desirable to provide a small building structure to be located in a garden, e.g., as recreational facilities.

In this connection, WO 2007038159 of September 20, 2006 to 3DM Worldwide pic describes a set of panels and collapsible building structure comprising walls and a roof. Some of the panels have curved flanges. The panels have sides matable with sides of adjacent panels. The panels are produced from a molded plasticized polymer with an aggregate filler material incorporated therein. These panels can be transported to a desired location, e.g. by a car, and assembled to form a building.

One drawback of this building structure resides in relatively large dimensions of the panels, which in some cases can make difficult transportation and/or storage of the building structure. Furthermore, compatibility of the panels of WO 2007038159is limited, so that configuration of a building structure composed therefrom is substantially fixed and cannot be easily modified. In this way, modularity of the building structure is limited, along with its capability to be flexibly adapted to different environments and requirements.

Another drawback resides in that adjacent panels in the corners are only interengaged along their edges having limited contact surface. Hence, connecting profiles of complex geometry are used to interconnect the adjacent panels.

Furthermore, non-uniform shape of the panels prevents safe and stable stacking thereof when storage or transportation is needed. Finally, WO2007038159 fails to disclose means for quick and easy alignment of the panels to be assembled with respect to each other.

SUMMARY

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least address one or more of the aforementioned problems of the prior art by providing an improved collapsible modular building structure. More specifically, the invention is aimed on providing a set of flanged panels which are easy to transport and/or store, interchangeable to a large extent, do not require additional profiled parts for interconnection, and can be stacked for storing and/or transportation. Further, the invention is aimed on providing a building structure formed of such panels.

To this effect, it is contemplated a concept of a construction modular component which can be used for erection dwelling facilities by one or two persons within one day and with little efforts, e.g. in a suburban and/or gardening area.

According to one aspect of the invention, a set of flanged panels is provided, wherein each of the panels has a side matable with a side of another panel. The mating side of one panel is shorter than a mating side of the other panel, so that the panel having the shorter mating side can be tilted at an angle with respect to the panel having the longer mating side and fitted between the flanges thereof.

According to another aspect of the invention a collapsible modular building structure is provided, the building structure comprising walls and a roof, the walls and the roof further comprising flanged panels, wherein each of the panels has sides matable with sides of adjacent panels.

In contrast to the prior art, the flanged panels defining an interface between the roof and the wall are configured and mated with each other in such a way that mating side of one mating panel is shorter than mating side of the other mating panel, so as the panel having the shorter mating side is fitted between the flanges of the panel having the longer mating side.

This arrangement of mating sides in the panels ensures that one panel can be fitted into another panel and then attached thereto. In this case, an outer side of one panel contacts an inner side of the other panel, wherein the contacting surfaces of the panels function as guiding limits for each other to suitably position these panels with respect to each other.

Flanges of a panel according to the invention function as stiffeners. Advantageously, close contact between sides of the mated panels contributes to better stabilization and stiffness of both a connection of panels and the assembled building structure. A further stabilization and stiffness of the connection and building structure is achieved when all flanges in each of the panels are formed integrally with each other so as to extend continuously along a periphery thereof. The flanges in a panel define a recess which can receive means of thermal insulation, damp-proofing and/or sound-proofing, e.g. bats. The bats can be treated so as to be fire protected. Alternatively or additionally, fire protection or inhibition means can be arranged between the bats. This can be of particular benefit in using a building construction according to the invention in a gardening area during barbecue season.

It will be appreciated that according to the invention the mated panels fitted into one another can be positioned at an angle of 90° with respect to each other; however, other angles, e.g. 45°, 60°, 135°, or 150°, are contemplated to diversify final design of an assembled building structure according to the invention. After positioning the mated panels are attached to each other.

Obviously, panels belonging to the same part of the building, e.g. to the same wall, are arranged in the same plane, that is to say at an angle of 180° with respect to each other. In this case the panels are positioned in such a way that one side of one panel is in contact with one side of another panel. Thus, it is most appropriate to connect the panels by attaching their contacting flanges to each other.

Preferably, the mating sides of the panels are rectilinear. However, the mating sides of the panels can have other complementary configurations. For example, they may be curved or polygonal.

In a preferred embodiment, the length of said shorter mating side is less than the length of said longer mating side as much as double thickness of the panel material.

In another preferred embodiment, the panel having the shorter mating side is used in a wall, and the panel having the longer mating side is used in the roof.

In other words, a panel having the shorter mating side can be used as a wall panel and a panel having the longer mating side can be used as a roof panel, thus enabling covering larger area of a roof assembled from these panels. Such a roof is easier to waterproof after assembling.

If an assembled wall is to cover a larger area, a panel having the shorter mating side can be used as a roof panel, and a panel having the longer mating side can be used as a wall panel. This arrangement of panels can be advantageous, e.g., in dressing facilities used for changing clothes.

In yet another preferred embodiment, another wall ^"positioned transversally to said interface between the roof and wall comprises another flanged panel which is positioned respectively transversely to and mated with the flanged panels defining said interface, and has its adjacent sides respectively mated with their respective sides so as to respectively fit between their flanges. In a preferred embodiment a collapsible modular building structure according to the invention further comprises a floor made of said panels, wherein at an interface between the floor and a wall, panels in the floor and the wall are mated with each other in the same way as the panels defining said interface between the roof and a wall. Thus, a collapsible modular building structure according to the invention can be assembled carrying out similar operations and using similar and interchangeable modular panels.

In yet another preferred embodiment, another wall positioned transversally to said interface between the floor and wall comprises another flanged panel which is positioned respectively transversely to and mated with the flanged panels defining said interface, and has its adjacent sides respectively mated with their respective sides so as to respectively fit between their flanges.

Each panel when viewed in plane has a shape of a rectangle with rounded corners. Hence, each flanged panel is configured like a flat-bottomed tray or cuvette.

Thus, said panels can be used to assemble a building structure shaped as a

parallelepiped with similar opposing faces. This building structure has similar floor and roof, similar side walls and similar front walls arranged transversely to the side walls, floor and roof.

Considering that the panels at the interface between an adjacent roof, a side wall, and a front wall are inserted into each other, the respective panels slightlly (e.g. about 2%) differ from each other in sizes.

Advantageously, opposing faces in an assembled building structure according to the invention are made of similar panels which can be used interchangeably.

The panels for a building structure according to the invention are produced in a range of 3 sizes differing slightly, e.g. about 2%, from each other. Thus, panels having different sizes and a tray shape can be stacked in such a way that a smaller panel can be stacked into a medium panel which then can be stacked into a larger panel. In this way panels are stacked tightly thus allowing compact stacking for storage and/or transportation. The lower panel in the stacked panels can be provided with wheels to advantageously tow the stack.

Adjacent sides of panels are used to fasten the panels to each other. As can be understood by those skilled in the art, adjacent sides of panels can be fastened to each other by any suitable fastening means, e.g. by a staple gun or powered stapler, by an adhesive, welding, self-tapping screws and/or bolts extending through mounting holes in the panels. In some embodiments, panels can be fastened to each other by bolts passed through mounting holes and nuts, wherein the nuts and/or heads of bolts can have lugs or be of butterfly type for ease of manual handling. However, it is advantageous to use quick releasable fasteners and mounting holes in the panels. The quick releasable fasteners comprise pins and clamping wedges. A periphery of a pin is less than a periphery of a mounting hole. The pin inserted in the mounting hole is fixed by forcing a clamping wedge from one side or two clamping wedges from both sides through the hole along the pin. A pin used for fastening the panels can be slightly tapered.

Advantageously, dowels can be used as temporary or permanent fasteners. To this end, slightly or suitably tapered wooden dowels can be chopped from a wooden log by use of a knife, hatchet, or an axe on the site just before assembly of the construction building according to the invention.

It is contemplated that the adjacent panels can be attached to the elements of the outer or inner lining, thus stabilizing fastening the panels therebetween.

In a preferred embodiment, the panels have a plurality of mounting holes positioned in such a way that at least one mounting hole in one panel is aligned with at least one mounting hole in an adjacent panel when one panel is mated with another adjacent panel. This arrangement of the mounting holes enables quick and easy alignment of the panels to be assembled relative to each other.

In yet another preferred embodiment, some floor panels can have small holes which can be used for inserting and pressing pins therethrough to stablize the floor relative to the ground.

Further, the inventors found that modular length units of one foot (30.5 cm) and one inch (2.54 cm) are very convenient for designing dwelling facilities based on the collapsible modular building structure according to the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the panels are similar to squares of three sizes, wherein medium size is 4x4 feet (122x122 cm), the other two sizes differing from the medium size by 2%.

In a preferred embodiment, a set of flanged panels and, respectively, a collapsible modular building structure when assembled comprise 12 larger panels, 12 medium panels, and 8 smaller panels. The roof is made of 6 larger panels arranged 3x2; the floor is arranged similarly.

One side wall is made of 6 medium panels arranged 3x2; another side wall is arranged similarly.

One front wall is made of 4 smaller panels arranged 2x2; another side wall is arranged similarly.

It shall be clear, however, that a set of flanged panels can include different number of panels of the above sizes or other sizes. At least one of the panels can have a large opening defining a window. The window can be provided in a side/front wall(s) and/or the roof. Two vertically adjacent panels in one plane can collectively define a door.

The panels can be made from plastic material e.g. fiber-reinforced polymer. However, any other suitable material can be used, e.g. metal, plywood, concrete, composite material, etc.

A building structure according to the invention can be used as a frame to be covered from the inside or outside with a functional (e.g. insulating) or decorative coating.

A collapsible modular building structure according to the invention can be assembled by any suitable method in any suitable order. For example, a floor can be assembled first, then lower corners, then walls and finally a roof.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the figures. The figures are provided to facilitate understanding of the disclosure without limiting the breadth, scope, scale, or applicability of the disclosure. The drawings are not necessarily made to scale.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembled collapsible modular building structure formed of flanged panels according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an upper corner in a collapsible modular building structure formed of flanged panels according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a lower corner in a collapsible modular building structure formed of flanged panels according to the invention.

Figure 4 illustrates stacked panels of a set of flanged panels according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Modifications to the examples described herein will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other examples and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Referring to Fig. 1, a collapsible modular building structure 10 comprises walls, such as side wall 12, and a roof 14, the walls and the roof further comprising side wall flanged panels 18 and roof flanged panels 16, correspondingly. The flanged panels 16, 18 belong to a set of flanged panels. Preferably, the flanged panels 16, 18 are produced from a plastic material, e.g. fiber-reinforced polymer. However, any other suitable material can be used, e.g. metal, concrete, composite material, etc.

In the preferred embodiment the panels are rectangular. Correspondingly, each panel has four flanges 22. As best seen in figs. 2-4, flanges 22 of each flanged panel are integrally connected with each other. Each of the panels 18, 16 has rectilinear lateral sides matable with rectilinear sides of other panels adjacent thereto.

Panels 16 and 18 are mated with each other at an interface between the roof 14 and the side wall 12 in such a way that a mating side in the panel 18 is shorter than a mating side in the panel 16, and the panel 18 is fitted between flanges 22 of the panel 16.

In a preferred embodiment, the mating side in the side wall panel 18 has a length of 1244.6 mm (49 inches); the mating side in the roof panel 16 has a length of 1270.0 mm (50 inches). Material used to produce the panels 16 and 18 has a thickness of 12.7 mm (0,5 inches).

Thus, due to the fact that the length of mating side in the side wall panel 18 is less than the length of mating side in the roof panel 16 as much as double thickness of the panel material, side flanges of the roof panel 16 function as guiding limits for the wall panel 18 when fitted into the roof panel 16.

Further, the collapsible modular building structure 10 comprises two front walls 24 positioned transversally both to the side walls 12 and roof 14.

Referring to Fig. 2, at an interface between the roof 14, the side wall 12 and the front wall 24, a front wall flanged panel 20 is transversely positioned to and mated with the roof panel 16 and the side wall panel 18, respectively. Adjacent sides in the panel 20 are respectively mated with respective sides in the panels 16 and 18 so as to respectively fit between the flanges thereof. The mated panels 16, 18 and 20 collectively define an upper corner 28 of the building structure 10.

Advantageously, the front wall panel 20 is generally rectangular, more specifically, square-like. In the panel 20 the side mated with the panel 18 has a length of 1219.2 mm (48 inches). Thus, due to the fact that the length of mating side in the front wall panel 20 is less than the length of mating side in the side wall panel 18 as much as double thickness of the panel material, side flanges of the panel 18 function as guiding limits for the panel 20 when fitted into the panel 18. To ensure that adjacent sides of adjacent panels 20 and 16 extend parallel to each other, spacers can be arranged therebetween, the spacers having a thickness of 12.7 mm (0,5 inches).

In one embodiment, a front wall panel can cover the flanges of mated panel in the roof and the side wall.

In a preferred embodiment, a floor of the building structure 10 comprises panels similar to the roof panels 16, wherein at an interface between the floor and the side wall 12, panels in the floor and the side wall 12 are mated with each other in the same way as the panels 16 and 18 used at the interface between the roof 14 and the side wall 12.

Referring to Fig. 3, at an interface between the floor, the side wall 12 and the front wall 24 provided transversally to the side wall 12 and the floor, a front wall panel 20 is mated with the floor panel 26 and the side wall panel 18 transversely to each of them. Adjacent sides in the panel 20 are respectively mated with respective sides in the panels 26 and 18 so as to respectively fit between the flanges thereof. The mated panels 18, 20 and 26 collectively define a lower corner 30 of the building structure 10.

Again, in a preferred embodiment panels 16, 18, 20, 26 are generally rectangular, more specifically, square-like, and have rounded corners.

A side in the panels 16 and 26 used interchangeably to assemble the roof and the floor has a length of 1270.0 mm (50 inches),

a side in the panel 18 used to assemble the side walls has a length of 1244.6 mm (49 inches),

a side in the panel 20 used to assemble the front walls has a length of 1219.2 mm (48 inches).

This sizing enables safe stable stacking of the panels for storage or transportation, as shown in Fig. 4.

Preferably, flanges 22 of adjacent panels arranged in one plane are faced in one direction; however, the flanges 22 can be arranged so as to face in different directions.

Two mounting holes 32 are provided in the side of the roof panel 16 mated with the wall panel 18; two mounting holes 34 are provided in the side of the wall panel 18 mated with the roof panel 16. Diameter of the holes is 12.7 mm (0.5 inches). When assembling, e.g. the upper corner 28, the holes 32 are aligned with the holes 34. When assembling the roof 14, the holes 32 are used to fasten the adjacent panels 16 with each other in the same plane.

The floor panels 26 in a corner can have apertures 36 used for passage of fixing rods to fix the floor relative to the ground. One panel 18, 20, or 16 and/or some of the panels can have a large opening defining a window 38 provided correspondingly in the side wall 12, the front wall 20) and/or the roof 14. Two vertically adjacent panels 20 or 18 in one plane can be used for define a door 40.

When assembling the building structure 10, adjacent panels are sequentially fastened to each other using the mounting holes 32.

For instance, the floor is assembled by arranging the floor panels 26 in one plane so as to contact flanges 22 thereof with each other and fasten the adjacent floor panels 26 to each other.

Then, lower corners 30 are assembled by fitting a side wall panel 18 into a floor panel 26 between the flanges 22 thereof transversely thereto and fastening the adjacent panels 26 and 18 to each other.

Next, a front wall panel 20 is fitted into the adjacent panels 26 and 18 between the flanges 22 thereof transversely thereto with subsequent fastening the adjacent panels 26, 20, and 18 to each other.

Then, a lower tier of the side walls 12 is assembled from the panels 18 by fitting them into the assembled floor panels 26 transversely thereto along sides of the assembled floor with subsequent fastening to each other the vertically adjacent panels 26 and 18 and the

horizontally adjacent panels 18.

Then, a lower tier of the front walls 24 is assembled from the panels 20 by fitting them into the assembled floor panels 26 transversely thereto along sides of the assembled floor with subsequent fastening to each other the vertically adjacent panels 26 and 20 and the

horizontally adjacent panels 20.

Further panels 18 are contacted by their bottom flanges with upper flanges of the earlier fixed panels 18 and arranged in the planes of the side walls 12 with subsequent fastening the panels 18 to each other horizontally and vertically.

Further tiers of the walls are assembled in the similar way. Upper corners 28 are assembled similarly to the lower corners 30. The roof 14 is assembled similarly to the floor.

LIST OF REFERENCES

10 collapsible modular building structure

12 side wall

14 roof

16 roof panel

18 side wall panel

20 front wall panel

22 flange of a panel

24 front wall

26 floor panel

28 upper corner

30 lower corner

32 mounting hole through a roof panel

34 mounting hole through a side wall panel

36 aperture for a fixing rod

38 window

40 door

Claims

1. A set of flanged panels, wherein each of the panels has a side matable with a side of another panel,

characterized in that,

the mating side of one panel is shorter than a mating side of the other panel, so that the panel having the shorter mating side can be tilted at an angle with respect to the panel having the longer mating side and fitted between the flanges thereof.

2. A set of flanged panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mating sides of the panels are rectilinear.

3. A set of flanged panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of said shorter mating side is less than the length of said longer mating side as much as double thickness of the panel material.

4. A set of flanged panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flanges in each of the panels are formed integrally with each other so as to extend continuously along the periphery thereof.

5. A set of flanged panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panels have a plurality of mounting holes positioned in such a way that at least one mounting hole in one panel is aligned with at least one mounting hole in an adjacent panel when one panel is mated with another panel.

6. A collapsible modular building structure comprising walls and a roof, the walls and the roof further comprising flanged panels, wherein each of the panels has sides matable with sides of adjacent panels,

characterized in that,

the flanged panels defining an interface between the roof and a wall are configured and mated with each other in such a way that mating side of one mating panel is shorter than mating side of the other mating panel, so that the panel having the shorter mating side is fitted between the flanges of the panel having the longer mating side.

7. A collapsible modular building structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mating sides of the panels are rectilinear.

8. A collapsible modular building structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the length of said shorter mating side is less than the length of said longer mating side as much as double thickness of the panel material.

9. A collapsible modular building structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the panel having the shorter mating side is used in a wall, and the panel having the longer mating side is used in the roof.

10. A collapsible modular building structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein another wall positioned transversally to said interface between the roof and a wall comprises another flanged panel which is positioned respectively transversely to and mated with the flanged panels defining said interface, and has its adjacent sides respectively mated with their respective sides so as to respectively fit between their flanges.

11. A collapsible modular building structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein another wall positioned transversally to said interface between the roof and wall comprises another flanged panel which is positioned respectively transversely to and mated with the flanged panels defining said interface, and has its adjacent sides respectively mated with their respective sides so as to respectively cover their flanges.

12. A collapsible modular building structure as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a floor made of said flanged panels, wherein at an interface between the floor and a wall, panels in the floor and the wall are mated with each other in the same way as the panels defining said interface between the roof and a wall.

13. A collapsible modular building structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein another wall positioned transversally to said interface between the floor and wall comprises another flanged panel which is positioned respectively transversely to and mated with the flanged panels defining said interface, and has its adjacent sides respectively mated with their respective sides so as to respectively fit between their flanges.

14. A collapsible modular building structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein all flanges in each of the panels are formed integrally with each other so as to extend continuously along the periphery thereof.

15. A collapsible modular building structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the panels have a plurality of mounting holes positioned in such a way that at least one mounting hole in one panel is aligned with at least one mounting hole in an adjacent panel when one panel is mated with another panel.