Patent Application
20230383516
The embodiments discussed in the present disclosure are generally related to construction technology. In particular, the embodiments discussed are related to construction and interconnection of prefabricated building modules for use in construction technology.
Existing construction technologies involve one-off (e.g., customized) build-on site approaches in which construction material is brought to the construction site. This has been the traditional methodology and approach for many years but has certain inherent challenges. Such challenges include non-availability of skilled workforce (e.g., manual labor), heavy and expensive on-site machinery, incorrect estimate of completion time of construction projects, delays in delivery of projects, weather, quality, wastage of materials, noise and air pollution, and cost involved in disposal of debris. This approach is also “one-off” and provides no repeatability or scalability leverage. Each building or project is done differently, and results vary widely.
Further, execution of construction projects needs an ensemble of technologies/domains such as, structural integration, civil engineering, mechanical joints, material science, etc. Although, there have been significant advancements in construction technologies, due to the above factors, the average cost of construction and the effective cost of owning a house is still high for a majority of aspiring owners.
In order to address the aforesaid shortfalls of these build-on site approaches, usage of prefabricated building modules for construction is also commonplace and has been in practice for some time. For example, building modules could be prefabricated at factories under factory scaling, repeatability, and in-factory conditions, and then delivered to a building site for expeditious on-site assembly. Prefabricated building modules are broadly classified into volumetric and non-volumetric types. A volumetric prefabricated building module is understood to persons skilled in the art as one which has a volume defined by a structured enclosure or boundary. A non-volumetric type is one wherein panels and other prefabricated components are stacked or packed together for storage and shipment with minimum space in-between. For some construction sites, for example, remote sites which are in primitive locations or otherwise too difficult to access, or where resources are difficult to acquire, or when weather conditions or environmental restrictions do not permit, construction using prefabricated modules are often the only practical option.
The prefabricated components typically comprise a solid roof, floor, and wall panels that are joined together during on-site assembling. In typical configurations, wall panels, roof panels, and floors are interconnected, for example, by an upwardly opening U-shaped profile bracket attached to a flooring member.
However, there remains a need in the art for constructing a modular housing system based on improved and robust prefabricated components to withstand load, climate changes, and daily wear and tear as may be subjected to any house or establishment. Alternatively, there lies a need for an improved and better quality roof, wall, floor panels, etc., as may be used for constructing the modular housing system.
Further, there lies a need for mechanical or electromechnical connectors for all the prefabricated components for simplifying and standardizing a connection across all the panels, allowing adjustment and/or replacement of the panels upon or after installation, and yet nonetheless providing a robust, dependable, water-tight interconnection. Such interconnection needs to be as robust as a permanent connection of a non-modular building system made of non-prefabricated components to not compromise quality.
Embodiments for constructing and interconnecting building blocks/modules in construction technology are disclosed that address at least some of the above challenges and issues.
In a first aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a modular building system, comprising a wall panel and a floor panel. The wall panel comprises a plurality of sheets disposed adjacently, a horizontal member supported along a bottom horizontal edge formed by adjacent disposition each of said sheets, and a plurality of vertical studs integral to the horizontal member and extending vertically downward from the horizontal member. The floor panel comprises a rail rigidly fixed to the ground or other foundation and defining an enclosure to receive the plurality of vertical studs of the wall panel and thereby vertically support the wall panel upon the foundation.
In an alternative embodiment, the plurality of sheets of the wall panel comprises a gypsum board, a plurality of metal studs to support the gypsum board, a plurality of metal column studs placed between the metal studs, mineral wool disposed between the metal studs, a sheathing board comprising a first cement board, an insulation layer, and an external cladding layer comprising a second cement board.
In an alternative embodiment, the modular building system further comprises a roof panel having a plurality of layers comprising one or more of a waterproofing membrane, a sheathing board, a plywood layer, a light gauge steel (LGS) based structure exhibiting a slope with respect to a surface of the waterproofing membrane, and a gypsum board ceiling. The roof panel further comprises a plurality of metal column studs interspersed in mineral wool above and below the LGS structure, wherein the mineral wool is held between the sheathing board above and below the LGS structure. An external cladding layer and an insulation layer are further provided.
In an alternative embodiment, each of the wall panel and the roof panel further comprises one or more connectors for achieving a connection with one or more of the wall panels and an other roof panel. The connector within the wall panel and the roof panel comprises at least one first vertical stud supported along a first vertical face, and at least one second vertical stud supported along a second vertical face opposite the first vertical face.
Further advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the detailed description of preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the drawings. In the drawings, identical numbers refer to the same or a similar element.
The following detailed description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. For purposes of explanation, specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required to practice the invention. Descriptions of specific applications are provided only as representative examples. Various modifications to the preferred embodiments will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope of the invention. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest possible scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.
With modernization in construction-related technologies, there has been a rapid shift from normal customized build on-site construction methodologies to construction using modules or blocks that can be built off-site. However, in such an approach, it may be of utmost concern that the modules are manufactured in such a manner that they are easy to transport, integrate, assemble, or mount on any construction site. Current manufacturing technologies fail to address this concern. The embodiments of the present disclosure address this concern by providing improved, multi-layered and robust prefabricated components.
Yet another important consideration may be that the boundary conditions of each module are sealed from the outside as well as inside continuously. In other words, the modules need to be structurally, mechanically, and aesthetically well connected/integrated with each other. Such seamless integration of modules on the construction site remains an unresolved challenge. The embodiments of the present disclosure address this challenge at least by providing improved and robust interconnecting arrangements among the prefabricated components.
While wooden studs were traditionally used to withstand a load of walls (interior and exterior) and roofs, steel studs have been employed and preferred over wooden studs in the construction business due to their various advantages. For example, steel studs are fire-resistant, rigid, lightweight, stable, and dimensionally controllable, and exhibit more resistance to earthquakes and tornadoes. In addition, when compared with wooden studs, steel studs remain unaffected by problems like rotting, cracking, shrinking, and termite-attack.
Construction technology in this disclosure proposes the use of fully loaded 2D Light Gauge Steel (LGS) panels for roof and walls coupled with other building blocks. The current disclosure also provides various embodiments of bathroom pods, modular kitchen, precast foundation(s), and floors, to construct high quality, highly sustainable homes/buildings while addressing the above noted concerns and challenges. The disclosed solution/architecture provides an improved multi-layered assembly of prefabricated components such as roof panels, floor panels, and wall panels to withstand load, climate changes, and daily wear and tear as may be subjected to any house or establishment. Further, the disclosed solution/architecture provides mechanical or electromechnical connectors (e.g. female-male pair based or otherwise “matched” connectors) for all the prefabricated components for simplifying and standardizing a connection across all the panels, which in turn allows adjustment and/or replacement of the panels upon installation, and last but not the least provides a robust, dependable, water-tight interconnection amongst the panels.
Certain terms and phrases have been used throughout the disclosure and will have the following meanings in the context of the ongoing disclosure.
“LGS” refers to Light Gauge Steel framing, which is a construction technology that uses cold-formed steel as a construction material.
“MEP” refers to Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing technical disciplines for making any building site suitable for human occupancy.
“HVAC” refers to Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems for providing heating and cooling to any building site.
“R-value” refers to a measure of thermal resistance, where R stands for resistance to heat flow. An R-value is specified for every layer of material, and United States energy codes only refer to the R-values of insulation layers in the prescriptive R-value compliance path.
“IECC” refers to the International Energy Conservation Code. IECC provides three paths for compliance for a building envelope. The first path specifies the required minimum level of insulation in the wall, i.e., R-value; the second path specifies U-factors for the building envelope components; and the third path, in which an annual energy use analysis is required, is based on the total building energy cost budget for heating, cooling, and service water heating.
“SFH” refers to single-family home, which typically has one unit intended to house a single family.
“Wall panel” refers to a prefabricated multi-layered wall fabricated at an offsite location and installed on-site, wherein “on-site” denotes a construction site and “offsite” denotes away from the construction site.
“Floor panel” refers to a prefabricated multi-layered floor fabricated at an offsite location and installed on-site.
“Roof panel” refers to a prefabricated multi-layered truss based roof fabricated at an offsite location and installed on-site.
“Horizontal track” refers to a rail component to vertically support components upon a foundation, ground or other origin.
“Vertical studs” refers to metallic columns or protrusions extending from a structure and capable of being fastened to another structure to connect both structures.
“Swaged studs” refers to male metallic connectors for mechanical linkage.
“Unlipped studs” refers to female metallic connectors for acting as a receptacle to the “Swaged studs”.
“Modular” refers to any mechanism involving arrangement of individual and independent blocks.
In accordance with the embodiments of the invention a modular building system comprises a wall panel, a floor panel, and a roof panel. The wall panel comprises a horizontal member supported along a bottom horizontal edge of the wall panel and a plurality of vertical studs integral to the horizontal member and extending vertically downward from the horizontal member. A floor panel comprises a rail disposed rigidly fixed to the ground and defining an enclosure to receive the plurality of vertical studs of the wall panel to vertically position the wall panel upon the ground.
In accordance with the embodiments of this disclosure, the rail is a horizontal track riveted to the ground and accommodates the vertical studs of the wall panel.
In accordance with the embodiments of this disclosure, the vertical studs of the wall panel are screw-fastened to the horizontal track.
In accordance with the embodiments of this disclosure, the wall panel further comprises one or more connectors for achieving a connection with an other wall panel, said one or more connectors comprising at least one of: a first vertical stud supported along a first vertical edge of the wall panel, and a second vertical stud supported along a second vertical edge opposite the first vertical edge of the other wall panel.
In accordance with the embodiments of this disclosure, the first vertical stud and the second vertical stud comprise a pair of male and female connectors to connect the wall panel with the other wall panel, and wherein the first vertical stud of the wall panel connects with the second vertical stud of the another wall panel through a screw fastener.
In accordance with the embodiments of this disclosure, the wall panel further comprises a plurality of sheets disposed adjacently, wherein the plurality of sheets of the wall panel comprise one or more of: a gypsum board, a mineral wool disposed between metal studs, a sheathing board comprising a first cement board, an insulation layer, and an external cladding layer comprising a second cement board.
In accordance with the embodiments of this disclosure, a roof panel has a plurality of layers comprising one or more of a water proofing membrane, a sheathing board, a plywood layer, and a false ceiling.
In accordance with the embodiments of this disclosure, the roof panel further comprises a light gauge steel (LGS) based structure having an elevation angle relative to a surface of the water proofing membrane, a plurality of metal column studs interspersed in mineral wool above and below the LGS structure, an arrangement to connect with the wall panel, and a cantilever arrangement.
In accordance with the embodiments of this disclosure, the roof panel further comprises one or more connectors for achieving a connection with one or more of the wall panel and another roof panel, said connectors comprising at least one first vertical stud supported along a first vertical face, and at least one second vertical stud supported along a second vertical face opposite the first vertical face.
In accordance with the embodiments of this disclosure, the at least one first vertical stud and the at least one second vertical stud comprise a pair of male and female connectors to connect the roof panel with an other roof panel, and wherein the at least one of the roof panel connects with the at least one second vertical stud of the other roof panel through a screw fastener.
The floor panel 104 comprises a rail or a horizontal track, i.e. a swaged/unlipped stud that provides an enclosure and thereby acts as a receptacle for the studs of the wall panel 102. The horizontal track is rigidly fixed (e.g., riveted) to the ground and defines an enclosure to receive a plurality of vertical studs (shown in
As one example, the horizontal track of the floor panel 104 is riveted or otherwise fastened to a foundation or the ground 204, for example, through a pneumatic pin fastener 206. As may be understood, the pneumatic pin fastener 206 is a rivet type connector that is driven by tools powered by air delivered from an air compressor. The foundation 204 may be formed of reinforced cement concrete (RCC) or any equivalent without departing from the scope of the ongoing description. In another example, the horizontal track 104 may also be installed within the foundation 204 by using, for example, a cement concrete mixture instead of the pneumatic pin fastener 206.
In another example, instead of RCC, the foundation or ground 204 may itself be a prefabricated panel comprising an R-15 Rigid Polyurethane Foam Insulation layer that may be placed contiguously followed, sequentially, by a Moisture Barrier layer, a Granular fill layer, and a Subgrade. In an embodiment, the thickness of the R-15 Rigid Polyurethane Foam Insulation layer may be 3 inches. In an embodiment, alternatively batt insulation may be used instead of R-15 Rigid Polyurethane Foam Insulation layer. The quick join-and-attach features of the wall panel 102 facilitate rapid placement, assembly, and dimensional predictability amongst other things.
Zip-type sheathing provides several advantages. For example, the rigid foam isolation board is attached, providing the building-code-required thermal break between the sheathing and the steel stud. Additionally, the zip outside the sheathing provides for direct mechanical/structural attachment of any siding (e.g., cement board, rain screen, masonry, stucco, etc.).
There are notable advantages of the depicted wall panel 102 such as its quick-join features which allow for the rapid assembly of extendable walls, and enable dimensional predictability as further depicted in
As depicted in the cross-sectional view of the wall panel in
The gypsum board 301 of the wall panel 102 may be supported by cold formed steel (CFS) based frames. Metal studs as a part of frame of the wall panel 102 may extend from the CFS frames. In one embodiment, the metal studs are 3.5-inch wide studs. However, such dimensions of metal studs are for illustration purposes only and may vary based on internal and external factors or other specifications. Further, mineral wool or R-13 Batt insulation 302 may be placed between the metal studs, for example, in the form of a close cell spray configuration for thermal and electrical shock prevention due to the presence of metal studs. As may be understood, in some embodiments the metal studs may be needed for a rigid frame of the wall panel 102 but remain prone to electrical shock and thermal heating. The R-13 Batt insulation provides insulation for the metal studs. In one embodiment, the zip sheathing has 1 inch foam board attached directly to the steel studs (on the outside portion of the wall and/or roof trusses) to provide an electrical and thermal break. Typically, the insulation between the studs on the inside surface of the walls, trusses, or both is to meet any required local building R performance/standards. In an embodiment, the mineral wool has a thickness of about 3.5 inches. However, the thickness of the mineral wool 302 may vary based on internal and external factors.
After the mineral wool 302 (e.g., traversing from the innermost to the outermost layer), a rigid insulation layer 303 is placed, preferably to provide a thermal break between the steel studs and outside finishes. In an embodiment, the rigid insulation layer 303 may have a thickness of about 1 inch and may vary based on internal and external factors. In another embodiment, the rigid insulation layer 303 may comprise a Zip system R-6 rigid foam insulation board.
Subsequent to the layer of rigid insulation 303, a sheathing board 304 is placed to provide both structural integrity and an outside surface to mount finish, roof materials, or both. In an embodiment, the sheathing board 304 is “Zip System 7/16 inches plywood (OSB) sheathing.” In another embodiment, the sheathing board 304 may be an Oriented strand board (OSB), MgO, cement board, etc. In another embodiment, the sheathing board 304 may have a thickness of about 0.5 inches. However, the dimensions of the sheathing board 304 are for illustration purposes only and may vary based on various factors.
Next to the sheathing board 304, an external cladding layer 305 is placed to provide the functionality of an external cement board as understood to a person skilled in art of building materials. In an embodiment, the external cladding layer 305 may be a cement board, about 5/16 inches thick. However, a person skilled in the art may select other available materials for external cladding layer 305 and accordingly select thickness based on design and purpose. The external cladding layer 305 provides an outside wall finish and, as some examples, can include brick, stucco, rainscreen, metal, porcelain tile, etc., or another material, similar to the zip outside layer, to provide an easy mechanical connection of outside finishes. The external cladding layer 305 may be joined with the sheathing board 304 using connector or joining means such as metal clamps 306 for cladding. The metal clamps 306 maybe “1 inches×2 inches” cement Board vertical members at 12 inches off center or 12 inches O.C. The number of metal clamps 306 to be used may depend on the number of wall panels. In an embodiment, the metal clamps 306 may be distributed evenly or unevenly between the cladding 305 and the sheathing board 304 to maintain continuity of the wall panel 102.
It will be appreciated that the sequence of layers is exemplary. In other embodiments, the layers may be interposed in different sequences, some layers may be omitted, and others added.
Further, the wall panel 102 comprises a horizontal member 308 supported along a bottom horizontal edge formed by adjacent disposition of each of said sheets 301-306. The horizontal member 308 may be a metal stud or CFS frame. Further, a plurality of vertical studs 310 are integrated with the horizontal member 308 and extend vertically downward from the horizontal member 308.
Further, as explained above, the floor panel 104 may comprise the horizontal track which is an unlipped/insulated track installed or fastened to the foundation 204. As explained above, the horizontal track of the floor panel 104 receives the metal studs such as the vertical studs 310 to enable placement of the wall panel 102 upon the floor panel 104 thereby vertically supporting the wall panel 102 upon the ground. Thereafter, the vertical studs 310 are screw-fastened with the floor panel 104. As may be understood, screw fastening affords replaceability, versatility, time efficiency of fastening, and robustness.
With respect to the wall panel 102A, the unlipped stud 502 may be supported along a first vertical edge as shown in
The roof panel 700 includes a waterproofing membrane 702 that may for example be a Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) single ply roofing laid over an ISO rigid insulation which is followed by a rigid insulation layer. In an embodiment, the thickness of the rigid insulation layer may be about 2 inches. However, the dimensions of the rigid insulation layer may vary based on internal and external factors. The rigid insulation layer is followed by a plywood layer 704. The plywood layer 704 maybe a ⅝″ OSB plywood decking. In some embodiments, the plywood layer 704 provides the same function as the outside wall finish described above.
The plywood layer 704 is supported by a light gauge steel (LGS) roof joist 706 with about ½ degree slope or alternatively exhibiting an elevation angle of 45°. It may be noted that the degree of slope may vary based on the specifics and requirements of the construction site. In an embodiment, the LGS roof joist 706 may be followed by a false ceiling 712 that in turn may comprise a gypsum board 712. In an embodiment, a batt type insulation 708 (e. g. R-38 Batt Insulation) may be used in the cavity of the roof panel 700 for R38 roof performance.
Metal column studs 710 above and below the LGS roof joist 706 may be covered by the batt type insulation's 708 mineral wool. In an embodiment, the metal column studs 710 may be about 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches and correspond to a CFS Truss 3.5 inches box design at 24 O.C. In an embodiment, the thickness of mineral wool covering the metal column studs 710 may be 3.5 inches. In an embodiment, the thickness of the plywood layer 704 on either side of the mineral wool is 0.5 inch.
In an example, although not shown in
Further, the roof panel 700 comprises a false ceiling, such as a gypsum board ceiling 712, at the bottom, and an access panel 714 (for example of about 12 inches) adjacent to the gypsum board ceiling 712 to facilitate fastening of trusses of the roof panel 700 with the wall panel 102. As may be understood, a truss is a structure that consists of members organised into connected triangles so that the overall assembly behaves as a single object. Upon such fastening, the access panel 714 may be finished with a cement board such as a gypsum board 720 to achieve a seamless connection. In addition, the roof panel 700 comprises at the edge a termination flashing 716 for waterproofing/sealing. A cantilever arrangement may be provided in the form of an overhang 718 that may be about 1 ft 4 inches long to render a balanced mounting of the roof panel 700 across the wall panel 102.
In accordance with an embodiment, the complete assembly from waterproofing membrane 702 at the top down to the gypsum board ceiling 712 at the bottom constitutes the roof panel 700. Various units or modules of the roof panel 700 as depicted may be joined and replicated to form a complete roof at any construction site.
It will be apparent to a person with ordinary skill in the art that dimensions and numbers utilized in the view of the roof panel 700 are for illustration purposes only, and such types of roof panels, number of units, and dimensions may vary based on construction site/purpose/budget/requirements, etc.
With respect to the roof panel 700A, the unlipped stud 902 may be supported along a first vertical edge of roof panel 700A. Accordingly, although not shown in
Method 1300 can include processes of various embodiments of the present disclosure which can be controlled or managed by a processor(s) and electrical components under the control of a computer or computing device comprising computer-readable and executable instructions or code. The readable and executable instructions (or code) may reside, for example, in data storage such as volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and/or mass data storage, as only some examples. As explained later, automation of method 1300 through computer employs various peripherals such as sensors, robotic arms etc. to operate upon panels 102, 104 and 700 during installation.
To generalize the explanation that follows, it is presumed that the first prefabricated wall 102A has already been erected, and the second prefabricated wall 102B is to be erected so that the two are adjacent to each other. However, such generalized description is merely for sake of simplicity of explanation and present subject matter may also be construed to cover simultaneous installation of all panels 102, 104 and 700 without any prior implementation.
It will be appreciated that the steps to erect wall panels 102A are similar to those for wall panel 102B, except that no adjacent wall has yet been installed. In this example, in an initial step, the “next” wall panel is the first wall panel 102A. In this initial step, no “adjacent” wall panel has yet been installed. In the second iteration, described below, the “next” wall panel is the second wall panel 102B, and the “adjacent” wall panel is the wall panel 102A.
At step 1302, a second (“next”) wall panel 102B is obtained. The second wall panel 102B may be hooked on a top track 410 along a top horizontal edge of the second wall panel 102B in accordance with the description of
At step 1304, the second wall panel 102B is positioned to align with the rail 104 and any other adjacent wall panel (here, the first wall panel 102A). More specifically, in step 1302, the hooked wall panel 102B is lowered onto the rail 104 and thereafter released from the hook. For such purposes, the second prefabricated wall panel 102B having a bottom horizontal surface with a second bottom connector 310B (here, the label “B” denoting a component of the second wall panel 102B) is lowered onto the rail 104 coupled to a foundation 204 of a building, the rail 104 having a top horizontal surface with a top connector. The second bottom connector 310B comprises studs and the top connector of the rail 104 comprises recesses or enclosures configured to receive the studs 310B. The second wall panel 102B further comprises a second side surface with a wall connector 502B configured to couple the second wall panel 102B to the first wall panel 102A, the first wall panel 102A comprising a first side surface with a first wall connector matched to the second wall connector. The first wall connector comprises an unlipped stud 502A, and the second wall connector comprises a swaged stud 504B. The second wall panel 102B may also be lowered towards the rail 104, the second wall panel having a second bottom horizontal surface comprising a second bottom connector 310B, until at least a portion of the second bottom connector 310B is inserted into the rail 104. The second wall panel 102B may be moved or pushed so that the second side connector or the swaged stud 504B aligns with the first side connector or the unlipped stud 502A.
At step 1306, the second wall panel 102B is fixedly coupled to the rail 104 and the adjacent wall panel, the first wall panel 102A. The second bottom connector 310B is coupled to the top connector of the rail 104 to secure the second prefabricated wall panel 102B to the rail 104, thereby vertically affixing the second wall panel 102B to the foundation 204. More specifically, the second bottom connector 310B is screw-fastened to the rail 104. Further, the first side connector 502A and the second side connector 504B are also fastened together through screw fastening to achieve coupling there-between.
At step 1308, a roof panel 700B is retrieved.
At step 1310, the roof panel 700B is positioned to align with the wall panels 102A, 102B and any adjacent roof panel, here, first roof panel 700A. More specifically, the roof panel 700B is secured over top horizontal edges 410B of the second wall panel 102B and the first wall panel 102A through a truss. Further, the roof panel 700B maybe sidewise secured to the other (e.g., adjacent) roof panel 700A in accordance with the description of
At step 1312, the roof panel 700B is fixedly coupled with the wall panels 102A, 102B and the adjacent roof panel 700A through screw fastening or welding, to name only a few examples, as explained in the descriptions of
At step 1314, it is checked if there are any further panels pending for installation from amongst the panels 102 and 700. If yes, then a control is transferred back to the step 1302 to undergo further iterations of the method 1300. Otherwise, the method 1300 terminates.
In one aspect, a system for performing the steps 1300 is automated. As one example, referring to
While
In an example, the wall panel 102, the floor panel 104 and the roof panel 700 may be connected together as explained in the preceding figures to achieve a rapid construct cross-section in accordance with an embodiment. The rapid construct cross-section may be an LGS modular construction. A plurality of blocks, such as the rapid construct cross-section may be combined to allow rapid on-site assembly and completion of the house. In an embodiment, the rapid construct cross-section may be used for SFH.
The rapid construct cross-section includes a bottom portion similar to the floor panel 104 discussed previously in
The rapid construct blocks as may be obtained due to their construction technology, are high quality, forming repeatable and scalable SFH products. They form an IECC energy compliant high-performance envelope.
With reference to the building blocks disclosed in
The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” as used in the specification herein, shall be considered as indicating an open group that may include other elements not specified. The terms “a,” “an,” and the singular forms of words shall be taken to include the plural form of the same words, such that the terms mean that one or more of something is provided. The term “one” or “single” may be used to indicate that one and only one of something is intended. Similarly, other specific integer values, such as “two,” may be used when a specific number of things is intended. The terms “preferably,” “preferred,” “prefer,” “optionally,” “may,” and similar terms are used to indicate that an item, condition, or step being referred to is an optional (not required) feature of the invention. The term “connecting” includes connecting, either directly or indirectly, and “coupling,” including through intermediate elements.
The invention has been described with reference to various specific and preferred embodiments and techniques. However, it should be understood that many variations and modifications may be made while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that methods, devices, device elements, materials, procedures, and techniques other than those specifically described herein can be applied to the practice of the invention as broadly disclosed herein without resort to undue experimentation. All art-known functional equivalents of methods, devices, device elements, materials, procedures, and techniques described herein are intended to be encompassed by this invention. Whenever a range is disclosed, all subranges and individual values are intended to be encompassed. This invention is not to be limited by the embodiments disclosed, including any shown in the drawings or exemplified in the specification, which are given by way of example and not of limitation. Additionally, it should be understood that the various embodiments of the building blocks described herein contain optional features that can be individually or together applied to any other embodiment shown or contemplated here to be mixed and matched with the features of that building block.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed herein.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of the co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/152,793, filed Feb. 23, 2021, and titled “Building Blocks in Construction Technology,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63152793 | Feb 2021 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17678635 | Feb 2022 | US |
| Child | 18232796 | US |
