SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MODULAR HOUSING

• US 20120005968A1
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Homes, LLC
• Original Assignee: Global Homes, LLC
• Inventors: Patino, Ricardo
• Granted Patent: US 8,978,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/79.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/003 Balconies; Decks
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/34317 Set of building elements forming a self-contained package for transport before assembly
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/34321 mainly constituted by panels
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/34384 Assembling details for foldable, separable, collapsible or retractable structures
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/615 the connection made by expansion
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/6179 with protrusions and recesses on each frontal surface
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/6195 the slabs being connected at an angle, e.g. forming a corner
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/46 specially adapted for making walls E04C2/52, E04C2/54 take precedence; structure of slab-shaped elements E04B1/02; walls of elements of relatively thin form E04B2/72
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/50 Self-supporting slabs specially adapted for making floors ceilings, or roofs, e.g. able to be loaded E04C2/52, E04C2/54 take precedence; structures of slab-shaped elements E04B1/02; floor structures E04B5/00; roofs consisting of self-supporting slabs E04B7/20; ceilings E04B9/00; roof coverings E04D; floor coverings E04F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/52 with special adaptations for auxiliary purposes, e.g. serving for locating conduits E04C2/54 takes precedence; block-shaped elements therefor E04C1/39; floor structures incorporating ducts E04B5/48
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2002/001 Mechanical features of panels
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 1/005 Modulation co-ordination
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 1/02 Dwelling houses; Buildings for temporary habitation, e.g. summer housessmall erections for limited occupation E04H1/12 ; collapsible, erectable or rotatable buildings E04B1/343
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 1/1205 Small buildings erected in the open air E04H1/1272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 15/00 Nails; Staples surgical staples A61B17/064; manufacture of nails or staples B21G ; drawing-pins, thumb-tacks B43M15/00; railway spikes E01B9/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0056 by moving the sheets, plates or panels or the interlocking key perpendicular to the main plane
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0088 with locking means moving substantially perpendicular to the main plane, e.g. pins, screws

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide a modular structure comprising a base, four upstanding sidewalls, and a roof. In various embodiments, the structure may include a clamping system adapted to interconnect the base, sidewalls, and roof. In various embodiments, a beam may be disposed across the top of two opposing sidewalls to provide structural support for the roof. In various embodiments, the collapsible container may be disassembled, for example for transport, and reassembled for reuse. In various embodiments, the collapsible container, when assembled, may be used as a housing structure adapted for use as a mobile work station, temporary housing, or barracks.

Claims

1. A modular structure comprising:

a plurality of floor tiles having a central aperture disposed therein and a plurality of couplers disposed around a perimeter thereof;

a plurality of sidewall panels operatively coupled to the plurality of floor tiles;

a plurality of roof panels disposed above and operatively coupled to the plurality of sidewall panels;

a plurality of removable latches for securing adjacent sidewall panels of the plurality of sidewall panels, the plurality of removable latches operatively engaging a plurality of pre-formed apertures in an intersection between adjacent sidewall panels;

a plurality of removable screw connectors for securing adjacent floor tiles of the plurality of floor tiles, the plurality of removable screw connectors engaging a plurality of pre-formed holes in the plurality of floor tiles;

wherein the plurality of floor tiles are secured to a substrate by a stake disposed through the central aperture;

wherein the plurality of removable screw connectors extend through a bottom surface of the plurality of floor tiles and engage a substrate therebelow, the engagement of the plurality of removable screw connectors and the substrate placing the stake in tension;

wherein adjustment of the plurality of screw connectors allows the plurality of floor tiles to be leveled.

2. The modular structure of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of stakes disposed through the central aperture for securing the plurality of floor tiles to a substrate.

3. The modular structure of claim 1, wherein the modular structure comprises a bathroom and a sleeping area.

4. The modular structure of claim 3, wherein the bathroom comprises a shower.

5. The modular structure of claim 1, further comprising an elevated base structure.

6. The modular structure of claim 5, wherein the elevated base structure comprises:

a recessed area for receiving the plurality of floor tiles; and

a clamping member disposed proximate to the recessed area for securing the plurality of floor tiles.

7. The modular structure of claim 1, wherein the plurality of floor tiles, the plurality of sidewall panels, and the plurality of roof panels are insulated.

8. The modular structure of claim 1, wherein at least one sidewall panel of the plurality of sidewall panels comprises a window.

9. The modular structure of claim 8, wherein the window comprises a frame and a removable pane.

10. The modular structure of claim 9, wherein the removable pane may be detached from the frame for use as an egress.

11. The modular structure of claim 1, wherein at least one sidewall panel of the plurality of sidewall panels comprises a door.

12. A method for assembling a modular structure, the method comprising:

coupling a plurality of floor tiles utilizing a plurality of removable screw connectors engaged with a plurality of pre-formed holes in the plurality of floor tiles;

securing, via the plurality of screw connectors and a plurality of stakes, the plurality of floor tiles to a substrate;

assembling a plurality of sidewalls to the plurality of floor tiles utilizing a plurality of removable latches;

securing adjacent sidewall panels of the plurality of sidewall panels by engaging the plurality of removable latches with a plurality of pre-formed apertures formed in adjacent sidewall panels of the plurality of sidewall panels; and

assembling a plurality of roof panels to the plurality of sidewall panels.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising leveling, via the plurality of screw connectors, the plurality of floor panels.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising securing the plurality of floor panels to a substrate via a plurality of stakes.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising disposing a roof beam above and between two sidewall panels of the plurality of sidewall panels, the two sidewall panels disposed on opposite sides of the modular structure.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said assembling the plurality of roof panels comprises assembling the plurality of roof panels to the roof beam such that adjacent roof panels overlap one another.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing an elevated base structure for receiving the plurality of floor tiles.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising securing the plurality of floor tiles to the elevated base structure.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising delivering a modular-structure bundle to a modular-structure site.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the modular-structure bundle comprises the plurality of floor tiles, the plurality of sidewall panels, and the plurality of roof panels.