Patent Application
20230058566
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus utilized to construct modular homes or other types of homes, including those utilizing shipping containers.
The shipping container is a common medium of transportation in the international (and domestic) transportation of goods. The shipping container may be one of the most cost effective forms of national and overseas transportation. By design, the shipping containers are readily transportable and have a sound structural integrity that provides great insulation and sound proofing, as well as rigidity.
As a result of globalization, new and used shipping containers are readily available in most countries. There are times when a company or corporation has excess shipping containers because it is not cost effective to return empty containers to their origin. Consequently, there are unused shipping containers throughout the world.
According to a first embodiment, a modular home connector includes a main portion, wherein the main portion is formed via a first side, a second side, and a third side, wherein the first side and the second side are opposite of one another and substantially parallel with one another, wherein one or more ends of the first side and second side include a first angle with respect to the third side and at a perimeter of the first side or second side, wherein the first and second side are met by the third side, wherein the top perimeter of a first main portion aligns with the bottom perimeter of a second main portion, a connector portion, wherein the connector portion includes a corresponding second angle to adjoin against a top perimeter of each side of the main portion and configured to connect two or more main portions via the connector portion, and a floor connector that includes a bottom portion connected to a middle portion, wherein the middle portion is adjoined via a right angle with the bottom portion, and a top portion is adjoined to the middle portion via a third angle, wherein a flat surface of the middle portion that is away from the bottom portion and aligns with the connector portion.
According to a second embodiment, a modular home connector includes a main portion, wherein the main portion is formed via a first side, a second side, and a third side, wherein the first side and the second side are opposite of one another and substantially parallel with one another, wherein one or more ends of the first side and second side include a first angle with respect to the third side and at a perimeter of the first side or second side, wherein the first and second side are met by the third side, wherein the top perimeter of a first main portion aligns with the bottom perimeter of a second main portion, and a connector portion, wherein the connector portion includes a corresponding second angle to adjoin against a top perimeter of each side of the main portion and configured to connect two or more main portions via the connector portion.
According to a third embodiment, a modular home connector includes a main portion, wherein the main portion includes a first side, a second side, and a third side, wherein the first side and the second side are opposite of one another and substantially paralleled with one another, wherein one or more ends of the first side and second side include a 45 degree angle with respect to the third side and at a perimeter of the first side or second side, wherein the first and second side are met by the third side, wherein the top perimeter of a first main portion aligns with the bottom perimeter of a second main portion, wherein the main portion is configured to connect with a corresponding connector portion.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications.
To overcome the problems and disadvantages experienced with the heretofore new and standard practices in modular building construction, the modular building system of the present disclosure has been devised. One embodiment of the disclosure may include a method to construct a home for building construction that can maximize the completion of the module in the factory environment where labor and quality can be controlled, that can have all of the framing done, thereby minimizing the work required to be completed in the field to create a habitable building. In other embodiments, is exterior claddings, windows, doors, interior finishes, cabinetry, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and roofing installed and completed in the factory. The building module can be transported to a building site utilizing the intermodal shipping network or by a plurality of different shipping and transportation methods.
According to one embodiment, upon arrival at the building site, the building module is placed on and secured to a foundation or other form of support, the shipping contain may include the constructed modular connectors that are preassembled for the frame of the home. The modular connectors may be removed from the shipping container revealing a frame home or a home suitable for use as a habitable building, both in it singular use as well as the creation of a larger habitable building via joining a plurality of the modules together at the building site. In each of these embodiments, the system may require minimal work in the field at the building site to create the habitable building.
These and other objects of this invention are accomplished by providing a fully finished building module. The term fully finished refers to but is not limited to the installation and substantial completion in the factory prior to transport to the building site of a substantially finished floor assembly, substantially finished wall assemblies, substantially finished exterior window and door assemblies, substantially finished roof assemblies, substantially finished interior and exterior building finishes, cabinetry, plumbing systems and fixtures, electrical systems and fixtures and mechanical systems and fixtures.
The material of the modular connector may be steel or any other type of metal connection, such as aluminum or alloy or any similar metal. In another embodiment, the material may be a plastic or polycarbonate material that may be utilized to make a customizable outdoor storage area, shed, greenhouse, or similar structure. A top perimeter and bottom perimeter (or edge) of the main portion main abut against a connector portion. In another scenario, the top perimeter of the main portion may abut to the bottom perimeter of another main portion (or vice version) to form a right angle due to the 45 degree angels at the top and bottom perimeters of the main portion. The main portion may consist of three or more sides, but at least two of the sides has a 45 degree angle at a top end (e.g., top perimeter) or bottom end (e.g. bottom perimeter) with respect to a rectangular side that connects the sides. The sides may form an open gap between a left and right side away from the bottom side. The opening 105 or channel 105 may be utilized and sized for a subfloor or other framing components, as well as insulation or other materials. The opening 105 may form a C-channel, U-channel, I-beam, or any other beam.
In one embodiment, a storage container may include a pre-assembled modular home utilizing the modular connectors. Thus, the modular home may be pre-assembled with the modular connectors at a factory and shipped inside of the storage container. Thus, when the container home is on the site of residence, the connectors may be welded and the appropriate spot. This may allow the framing of a modular home to be complete when the connectors are removed via a crane, hand, or other tool. Thus, the amount of labor done at the site of residence is reduced since framing is substantially complete, if not fully complete. The assembly may include an automated erection system, which may include a system of electric motors, gears, pulleys, cables, automated mechanical arms and electronic controls, located within the container structure of the modular assembly, and which interact with a plurality of frame panels and unit panels to deploy and retract the plurality of frame panels and unit panels for constructing the shipping container configuration and building unit configuration.
While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms encompassed by the claims. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments can be combined to form further embodiments of the invention that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics can be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. These attributes can include, but are not limited to cost, strength, durability, life cycle cost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. As such, to the extent any embodiments are described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics, these embodiments are not outside the scope of the disclosure and can be desirable for particular applications.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63/234,448 filed Aug. 18, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63234448 | Aug 2021 | US |
