Portable building construction

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6332298
  • Patent Number
    6,332,298
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, May 4, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 25, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Friedman; Carl D.
    • Dorsey; Dennis L.
    Agents
    • McClung; Guy
Abstract
A beam structure, the beam having a body with two spaced-apart ends, two blocks in the body, each optionally with at least one lifting eye, each of the two blocks spaced-apart from each other and spaced-apart from the two spaced-apart ends of the body; and a structure with a first beam and a second beam, each beam comprising a body with two spaced-apart ends, two blocks in the body, in one aspect of the size of standard ISO corner fittings, each of the two blocks spaced-apart from each other and spaced-apart from the two spaced-apart ends of the body, each beam having a tubular support on and projecting from each block, the tubular supports aligned as two pairs of tubular supports, two tubular members one each extending between each pair of the tubular supports, each tubular member having two ends with one end projecting into one of the tubular supports of a pair of tubular supports and one end projecting into the other tubular support of the pair of tubular supports.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




This invention is directed to building construction, modular buildings, portable buildings, a building module, and apparatus and methods for facilitating the correct alignment, connection, and stabilization of one building structure on another.




2. Description of Related Art




The prior art discloses a variety of structures and methods for mounting an upper structure (another building, additional story of a building, roof structure, upper deck, etc.) on a lower or base structure. In one prior art system a second story module is emplaced on a first story module and corner beams or braces and/or intermediate members are secured to each story.




As shown in

FIG. 1A

a prior art system as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,227 discloses structure and methods for stacking one building core on another which are interconnected and secured together with metal angle members at their corners. The angle members serve as guides and supports and hold the cores in stacked condition during shipping.




U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,206 discloses a prior art system with stackable prefabricated building units having vertical corner casings extending into corner openings of a top wall. Bolts through an angle member and the top wall join the vertical casings to the top wall. Bolts through an adjacent unit and support beams join the adjacent unit to the top wall of a lower unit. In another aspect pieces of adjacent units are welded together. In another aspect attached sheet metal panels join together a series of units.





FIG. 1B

shows a prior art two-story building on a skid with a floor and upper and lower walls which are interconnected by connection members through which extend bolts or screws into each wall. A ceiling/second story floor is supported by the lower wall. The upper wall's interior side rests on the ceiling/second story floor.




Another common prior art system is the well known use of standard ISO containers and the stacking of such containers one on top of the other. Certain of these prior art systems have a relatively large footprint in use and in transport.




SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION




The present invention, in certain aspects discloses a portable building system and method for its transport and assembly. In certain aspects upper and lower beams or “headers” at spaced-apart ends of the building have as an integral part thereof a block in the same shape, size, and configuration as the well-known widely-used standard ISO (“International Standards Organization”) fittings blocks or corners with a plurality of lifting eyes used in the shipping and transport industries worldwide at the corners of standard ISO shipping containers.




In certain aspects these blocks are not at the corners of the beams or headers, but are incorporated within the beam or header at an intermediate location. Thus, a portable building with such blocks is not limited in dimensions to the size of the standard ISO shipping container in which the ISO fittings are at the outermost corners of the container.




In certain aspects, such portable buildings have a roof with support members having a hollow inner body and an upper exposed opening which can receive moisture and rain water from the roof. This water flows into the support, which is an integral part of the assembled building, and then from within the support to the interior of other hollow building components which channel it to a collection container and/or to the ground adjacent the building.




In certain aspects such a building is assembled by bolting the various components together without the need for welding parts together (although it is within the scope of other aspects of this invention to weld any metal parts together as desired).




In certain aspects, the floor, the walls, the headers, the beams, the components, and/or the roof (and/or any interior and/or exterior surface of the building) are coated with covering material as described below.




The present invention, in certain embodiments, discloses a multi-story building or a building with a lower structure and an upper structure wherein the first floor or lower structure has at least one wall (or upright support, pillar, pole, or beam) with at least an upper enlarged portion which is sized to receive and hold a lower portion of an upper wall (or upper beam, pillar, pole support). In one aspect the entire length of the wall of the first floor or lower structure is enlarged and the upper wall's or upper support's lower portion is bolted to and within the lower wall and/or rests on one or more steps in the lower wall.




As desired, the upper and lower walls may be further secured together with interconnecting members, ribs, panels, braces, beams, etc. The upper wall may be a wall of an upper story or a support for an upper structure such as a truss or roof. Each lower wall may have an enlarged portion along its entire length; e.g. in a square or rectangular building all four lower walls may have the upper enlarged portion and all upper walls along their entire length may fit into the enlarged portions of the lower walls.




In another aspect, the lower structure initially includes no walls, but has at least one pillar (beam, support, pole, etc.) with an enlarged open upper end which receives and holds a smaller end of an upper pillar (beam, support, pole, etc.). In one aspect the lower structure includes four such lower pillars each with an enlarged or “funnel” upper opening for facilitating the reception into the lower pillars of a lower end of each of four upper pillars. Of course, any suitable number of structures, building units, pillars, etc. may be stacked and interconnected one on top of the other.




In one aspect the lower wall or lower pillar has a top funnel or enlarged portion which is sized so that the lower end of an upper wall or upper pillar fits in it and is held therein by a friction fit, with or without the use of a stop member or members in the lower wall or pillar on which rests the lower end of the upper wall or upper pillar. Any suitable stop member or members may be used; e.g. a bolt or bolts extending into the lower structure; a plate, strip, or strips secured across the interior of the lower structure; an amount of material glued to the interior of the lower structure; a plug, hollow or solid secured in the lower structure; or a cylindrical or semi-cylindrical member secured in a cylindrical pillar. Bolts, screws, glue, or other fasteners may be used through any upper and lower structure or members herein at an area of their overlap to secure them together.




In one aspect the present invention discloses a structure as described above with a lower pillar having at least a top portion which is hollow (and which in one embodiment may be hollow along its entire length) and an upper pillar similarly hollow. A connection member (solid or hollow) that fits within both pillars is disposed with a portion in both pillars and secured to both pillars, e.g. with glue, screws and or bolts. If the pillars are cylindrical, the connection member may be cylindrical, semi-cylindrical, or some portion of a cylinder. Such a connection member facilitates correcting positioning of an upper pillar with respect to a lower pillar. In one aspect the connection member is emplaced within the upper pillar; the upper pillar is moved over the lower pillar; and the connection member is lowered so that part of it extends into the lower pillar. Alternatively the connection member is originally disposed in the lower pillar and it is raised partially so its upper end extends into the upper pillar. In one aspect one or more stops are positioned in the lower pillar to support and position the connection member. In another aspect one or more spring-loaded detents initially holds the connection member in one of the pillars and then holds it in the other. In one aspect two spaced apart detents are used, one holding the connection member to a lower pillar and one holding it to an upper member.




In one embodiment, the present invention discloses a lower pillar with an upper funnel portion which is sized, configured and positioned for receiving a tapered lower nose of a connection member (solid or hollow) originally movably disposed in an upper pillar. The nose may be held in the funnel portion with a friction fit, glue, screws, and/or bolts. The funnel portion may be formed integrally of the lower pillar or it may be a separate piece or pieces disposed on and/or in the upper part of the lower pillar. The funnel portion may be made of the same material as the lower pillar (metal, wood, plastic, fiberglass) or of different material. In one aspect the funnel portion may have an upper lip or upper portion that serves as a shock absorber and/or seal or gasket between an upper and a lower pillar.




Any building unit or structure disclosed herein may be mounted on a skid, frame, truck, or trailer.




What follows are some of, but not all, the objects of this invention. In addition to the specific objects stated below for at least certain preferred embodiments of the invention, other objects and purposes will be readily apparent to one of skill in this art who has the benefit of this invention's teachings and disclosures. It is, therefore, an object of at least certain preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide:




New, useful, unique, efficient, nonobvious portable buildings, portable building kits, and methods for transporting and assembling them;




Such buildings with components having integral blocks that correspond to standard ISO shipping container corners; and




Such building which can be assembled solely with bolted-together major components;




New, useful, unique, efficient, nonobvious devices and methods for building units, interconnected supports including walls and pillars, methods to facilitate emplacement and positioning of an upper unit or pillar on a lower unit or pillar, and pillars (or walls) with upper enlarged portions to facilitate reception therein of an upper member.




Certain embodiments of this invention are not limited to any particular individual feature disclosed here, but include combinations of them distinguished from the prior art in their structures and functions. Features of the invention have been broadly described so that the detailed descriptions that follow may be better understood, and in order that the contributions of this invention to the arts may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional aspects of the invention described below and which may be included in the subject matter of the claims to this invention. Those skilled in the art who have the benefit of this invention, its teachings, and suggestions will appreciate that the conceptions of this disclosure may be used as a creative basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out and practicing the present invention. The claims of this invention are to be read to include any legally equivalent devices or methods which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.




The present invention recognizes and addresses the previously-mentioned problems and long-felt needs and provides a solution to those problems and a satisfactory meeting of those needs in its various possible embodiments and equivalents thereof. To one skilled in this art who has the benefits of this invention's realizations, teachings, disclosures, and suggestions, other purposes and advantages will be appreciated from the following description of preferred embodiments, given for the purpose of disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detail in these descriptions is not intended to thwart this patent's object to claim this invention no matter how others may later disguise it by variations in form or additions of further improvements.











DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




A more particular description of embodiments of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by references to the embodiments which are shown in the drawings which form a part of this specification. These drawings illustrate certain preferred embodiments and are not to be used to improperly limit the scope of the invention which may have other equally effective or legally equivalent embodiments.





FIG. 1A and 1B

show prior art systems.





FIG. 2A

is an end view of a multi-story building according to the present invention.





FIG. 2B

is a partial cross-section view of the building of FIG.


2


A.





FIG. 2C

is a cross-section view along line


2


C—


2


C of FIG.


2


B.





FIG. 2D

is a cross-section view along line


2


C—


2


C of FIG.


2


C.





FIG. 2E

is a bottom cross-section view along line


2


E—


2


E of FIG.


2


D.





FIG. 2F

is a partial cross-section end view of a system according to the present invention usable in the building of

FIG. 2A

or other buildings.





FIG. 2G

is a bottom cross section view along line


2


G—


2


G of FIG.


2


F.





FIG. 2H

is a partial side cross-section view of a building and skid mount according to the present invention.





FIG. 3A and 3B

are front cross-section views of component connection systems according to the present invention.





FIG. 3C

is a cross-section view along line


3


C—


3


C of FIG.


3


B.





FIG. 4A and 4B

are front cross-section views of component connection systems according to the present invention.





FIG. 5A

,


5


B and


5


C are front cross-section views of component connection systems according to the present invention.





FIG. 6A and 6B

are front cross-section views of component connection systems according to the present invention.





FIG. 7A

is a side view in cross-section of the funnel portion of the lower pillar of the connection system of FIG.


6


A.





FIG. 7B

is a top view of the funnel portion of FIG.


7


A.





FIG. 8A

is a side view in cross-section of a funnel member according to the present invention.





FIG. 8B

is a top view of the funnel member of FIG.


8


A.





FIG. 9A

is a perspective view of a multi-pillar building structure according to the present invention.





FIG. 9B

is an end view in cross-section of the structure of FIG.


9


A.





FIG. 10A

is a side cross-section view of a building according to the present invention.





FIG. 10B

is a top cross-section view of part of the building of FIG.


10


A.





FIG. 10C

is a side cross-section view of part of the building of FIG.


10


A.





FIG. 11A

is a side cross-section view of a roof truss and skid according to the present invention.





FIG. 11B-11D

show parts of the structure of FIG.


11


A.





FIG. 11E

presents an alternative embodiment of the structure of FIG.


11


A.





FIG. 12

is a side cross-section view of a roof truss and skid according to the present invention.





FIG. 13A

is a front view of a beam according to the present invention.





FIG. 13B

is a cross-section view along line


13


B—


13


B of FIG.


13


A.





FIG. 14A

is a front view of a beam according to the present invention.





FIG. 14B

is a cross-section view along line


14


B—


14


B of FIG.


14


A.





FIG. 15

is a front view of building components for a building according to the present invention.





FIG. 16A

is a cross-sectional front view of building components for a building according to the present invention.





FIG. 16B

is a perspective view of an ISO fitting of the building components of FIG.


16


A.





FIG. 17

is an enlargement of some of the components of FIG.


16


.





FIG. 18

is a top view of the components of FIG.


17


.





FIG. 19A

is a side view of a corner fitting for a building according to the present invention.





FIG. 19B

is a top view of the fitting of FIG.


19


A.





FIG. 20A

is a side view of a corner fitting for a building according to the present invention.





FIG. 20B

is a top view of the fitting of FIG.


20


A.





FIG. 21A

is a side view of a support column for a building according to the present invention.





FIG. 21B

is a cross-section view of the column of FIG.


21


A.





FIG. 22

is a front view of a structure according to the present invention.





FIG. 23A and 23B

are side schematic views of building according to the present invention.





FIG. 24

is an exploded view of a building and components thereof according to the present invention.





FIG. 25A

is an exploded view of a building according to the present invention.





FIG. 25B

is a top view of the roof of the building of

FIG. 25A

containing the building components.





FIG. 25C

is a side view of the roof and floor of a building as in

FIG. 25A

with the floor serving as a cover over the hollow roof.





FIG. 25D

is a side view of an alternative roof embodiment.





FIG. 26

is a perspective view of a building according to the present invention.











DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS PREFERRED AT THE TIME OF FILING FOR THIS PATENT





FIGS. 2A-2C

shows an end of a rectangular building


10


(with an opposite end, not shown; the ends spaced apart by two opposed sides, not shown—e.g. but not limited to a building as in

FIG. 2

, U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,934) on a skid


12


, the building


10


having four pillar supports


20


, one in each corner of the building. The building


10


has a truss roof


14


, a lower floor


16


(which may be a floor of the skid


12


) and an intermediate floor


18


.




Each pillar support


20


has a lower pillar


21


with a stop member


22


secured therein and an upper pillar


23


with a lower end


24


within an upper end


25


of the lower pillar


21


. The upper pillar


23


rests on the stop member


22


. A brace


30


spans the upper and lower pillars and connectors


31


(fasteners, bolts, screws, dowels, etc.) extend through the brace


30


into the pillars. A brace


32


is connected to a top end of the upper pillar


23


and to the roof


14


by connectors


27


. The floor


18


rests on the lower pillar


21


and abuts the upper pillar


23


. Mounting brackets


35


with bolts


36


extending through the lower pillar


21


mount it to the skid


12


. A plurality of two, three, four or more braces


30


and/or


32


may be used with the building of

FIG. 2F

or with any building or structure disclosed hereon.

FIG. 2H

shows an alternative skid mounting structure according to the present invention in which a hollow pillar


21




a


of a building


10




a


(like the building


10


) is positioned around a hollow member


8


secured to a skid


12




a


. One or more optional removable pins or bolts


7


may be used to secure the pillar


21




a


to the hollow member


8


. This same structure may be used to mount any building disclosed herein on a floor or foundation.





FIGS. 2D-2E

show a pillar system


40


according to the present invention with some parts like those of the system of

FIG. 2A

; and like numerals indicate the same parts. In the system


40


a lower pillar


20


has an upper enlarged portion


28


which receives the lower end


24


of the upper pillar


23


.





FIGS. 2F-2G

show a pillar system


50


according to the present invention which is like the system of

FIG. 2D

but which uses a friction fit of the lower end


24


of the upper pillar


23


in an enlarged portion


36


of a lower pillar


37


rather than a stop member. Of course it is within the scope of this invention to use both such a friction fit and stop member.





FIGS. 3A-3C

show a pillar connection system


60


for connecting an upper pillar


61


and a lower pillar


62


which are used as the pillars in the systems described above. A connection member


63


, in this case in the form of a hollow cylindrical sleeve, may initially reside in either pillar or it may be emplaced therein prior to use. As shown in

FIG. 3B

, the connection member


63


has an upper end within the upper pillar


61


and a lower end within the lower pillar


62


. Bolts


64


releasably secure the connection member to the upper pillar


61


and bolts


65


releasably secure the connection member


63


to the lower pillar


62


.





FIGS. 4A and 4B

show a pillar system


70


according to the present invention (usable with any building or structure disclosed herein) with an upper pillar


71


and a lower pillar


72


which are hollow cylinders as are the pillars in

FIG. 3A

(but which may be, as may be any pillar herein, any desired shape as viewed from above, including, but not limited to, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, or polygonal). A connecting sleeve


73


(like the connecting member


63


) is initially disposed either in a lower end of the upper pillar


71


(as shown in

FIG. 4A

) or in an upper end of the lower pillar


72


(not shown). Upon assembly, the connecting sleeve


73


has a lower end that rests on stop members


74


secured to or formed integrally of the lower pillar


72


. Alternatively, the connecting sleeve


73


may initially be placed and/or secured in either pillar in the position shown in

FIG. 4B

, e.g. with glue, screws, bolts, or other fasteners or connectors.





FIGS. 5A-5C

show a pillar system


80


according to the present invention (usable with any building or structure herein) with an upper pillar


81


and a lower pillar


82


which are hollow cylinders like the pillars in

FIG. 3A. A

connecting sleeve


83


(shaped like the connecting member


63


) is initially held up in the upper pillar


81


by a detent mechanism


85


having one, two, three, or more (at least one) spring-loaded detents


86


which initially and releasably project through holes


87


in the connecting sleeve


83


and holes


88


in the upper pillar


82


.





FIGS. 6A and 6B

show a pillar system


90


according to the present invention with an upper pillar


91


and a lower pillar


92


(in one aspect, hollow cylinders like previously described pillars). A connecting member


93


is initially movably disposed in the upper pillar


91


. The lower pillar


92


has a funnel member


94


emplaced on and/or secured to an upper end of the lower pillar


92


. A tapered nose


95


of the connecting member


93


is sized and configured for reception in a tapered funnel portion


96


of the funnel member


94


. Screws, bolts, glue or other fasteners or connectors may be used to secure the nose


95


to the lower pillar


92


and/or to the funnel member


94


.





FIGS. 7A and 7B

show a funnel member


94


with a lip


97


. The lip or the entire funnel member may be made of shock absorbing material foam, plastic, seal material, metal, fiberglass composite, gasket material, or wood.





FIG. 8A and 8B

show a funnel member


100


which is, in effect, a portion of the funnel member


94


. One or more such funnel members


100


are used within a pillar to guide and hold a nose like the nose


95


or (as may be the case with the funnel member


94


) to guide and hold a connecting member or sleeve which is small enough to enter between the funnel members (or into the full funnel).





FIGS. 9A and 9B

show a building structure


110


according to the present invention with four pillars


112


, each having an enlarged top opening


114


for facilitating receiving a pillar or other member of a building module, structure, deck, unit, etc. from above. An optional stop member


116


may be used on each pillar


112


. Connecting members


118


interconnect the four pillars. In any such structure with four pillars only one, two, or three such pillars with enlarged top openings may be used and/or a pair of opposed pillars with enlarged top openings. Also, a structure with any number of pillars may have one or more pillars like those in FIG.


9


A.





FIGS. 10A-10C

show a building


120


(like the building


10


and with certain parts not shown as with the building


10


) with a roof covering


122


made of any suitable material, including, but not limited to, spray-on plastic or roof membrane material. The roof covering


122


covers a roof truss


124


and a portion of the roof covering


122


projects down past the truss


124


and is adjacent an exterior surface of a pillar


121


. In one aspect there are four pillars


121


with walls


123


between them (e.g., any wall disclosed herein) and, optionally, the roof covering projects down around the four walls


129


.




L-shaped protectors


132


cover the edges of the truss


124


and completely surround it. A sub-pillar


126


secured to the truss


122


projects down into and is held within a hollow portion


123


of the pillar


121


. A sub-pillar


128


is secured to a floor, foundation, or frame


129


and projects upwardly into and is held within the hollow pillar


121


. Bolts


127


bolt together frame pieces. Such a pillar/sub-pillar mounting structure may be used with any building disclosed herein. Walls


123


are secured to mounting members


131


with bolts


134


. The members


131


are secured to the frame


129


, e.g., welded and/or bolted thereto. Support members


135


(one shown) are secured in the frame


129


and facilitate lifting and movement of the structure by mechanical equipment, e.g., but not limited to, by a forklift.





FIGS. 11A-11D

show a covered roof truss


140


(like the truss


124


and roof covering


122


,

FIG. 10A

) with covering


145


on a truss


149


mounted on a skid


142


. The skid


142


(or floor or foundation) has hollow upwardly projecting members


144


that receive and hold downwardly projecting member


146


of the covered roof truss


140


. The roof covering, which is optional, is sized to abut an upper surface


148


of the skid


142


to seal the truss/skid interface. Parts of a building


148


(including but not limited to one or more walls) and/or other items may be stored in a space


149


between the truss


140


and the skid


142


. The members


144


,


146


may be any desired shape and/or cross-section, including, but not limited to, tubular, triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal or hexagonal. The members


146


may be solid or hollow. Conversely the members


146


may be hollow and be sized to receive the members


144


.





FIG. 11E

presents an alternative roof covering


122




a


for the structure


140


. Lower ends


122




b


of the roof covering


122




a


encompass the skid


142


and seal against it.





FIG. 12

shows a structure


150


like that of

FIG. 11A

, but with an enlarged space


159


between a roof truss


154


and a skid


152


. The space


159


may be sized to hold some or all of the structural components and members


156


of a building (including, but not limited to walls of the building) to be assembled with the roof truss


124


. The skid


152


may be, alternatively, a floor or foundation; or a skid itself may serve as a floor. Members


157


(like the members


146


,

FIG. 11C

) project down into a hollow tubular


153


(the structure including one, two, three, four or more tubulars


153


) and members


151


secured to the skid


152


project up into the tubulars


153


.




Any building and/or truss/skid combination disclosed herein may be sized to be liftable by a crane or appropriate lifting device, and to have a minimal foot print when packaged on a skid for transport.





FIGS. 13A and 13B

show a beam or header


200


according to the present invention which has a body


202


with a top step


204


and a bottom step


206


on or against which a wall, roof, floor or other structural component can rest. Optional tubular members


208


,


210


are at either end of the beam


200


each with a channel


212


,


214


, respectively, therethrough from top to bottom. The tubular members


208


,


210


can be formed of or secured to the body


202


, e.g. by welding or with screws or bolts. The channel


212


is aligned with a channel


216


extending through the body


202


of the beam


200


, as does a channel


218


which is aligned with the channel


214


. Either or both channels


216


,


218


may be eliminated. The channels provide a water drainage path from a roof or other structural component on the beam.




Two blocks


220


,


222


are secured to or formed integrally of the beam


200


. In one particular aspect each of these blocks


220


,


222


is shaped, sized and configured like a standard ISO fitting or corner for a standard ISO shipping container.

FIG. 16B

shows one embodiment I of such an ISO fitting


220


with lifting eyes E. Such a fitting with none or with only one or only two lifting eyes may also be used according to the present invention. Each block also has eyes or holes


221


,


223


,


225


(

FIG. 16B

) (see, e.g. also the eye


265


of a block


260


, FIG.


18


). Optionally a portion


228


,


229


of each block projects away from the body


202


sufficiently so that a structure with blocks in corresponding locations can be positioned on top of a structure with the beam


200


with its blocks resting on the blocks


220


,


222


.




The beam


200


is, in certain aspects, well-suited for supporting a roof, e.g. but not limited to, a roof of a portable building. A beam


240


shown in

FIGS. 14A and 14B

is, in certain aspects, well-suited for supporting a floor, e.g., but not limited to, a floor of a portable building.




The beam


240


has a body


242


according to the present invention which has a top step


244


and a bottom step


246


on or against which a wall, roof, floor or other structural component can rest. Optional tubular members


248


,


250


are at either end of the beam


240


, each with a channel


252


,


254


, respectively, therethrough from top to bottom. The tubular members


248


,


250


can be formed of or secured to the body


242


, e.g. by welding or with screws or bolts.




The channel


252


is aligned with a channel


256


extending through the body


242


of the beam


240


, as does a channel


258


which is aligned with the channel


254


. Either or both channels


254


,


258


may be eliminated. The channels provide a water drainage path through the beam


240


.




Two blocks


260


,


262


(e.g. like the fitting I,

FIG. 16B

) are secured to or formed integrally of the beam


240


and these blocks may, in certain aspects, be like the ISO corners described above with holes


261


,


263


,


265


(like the eyes


221


,


223


,


225


), projecting portions


268


,


269


(like the portions


228


,


229


, FIG.


13


A).





FIG. 15

shows a structure


270


according to the present invention which includes a beam


200


as in

FIG. 13A

at the top and a beam


240


as in

FIG. 14A

at the bottom. Removable tubular supports


271


,


272


each with a channel


273


,


274


, respectively, therethrough from top to bottom interconnect the beams


200


,


240


and support the beam


200


. As shown the tubular members


208


,


210


of the beam


200


and the tubular members


248


,


250


of the beam


240


are received within the tubular supports


251


,


252


. Alternatively, the ends of the tubular supports


251


,


252


could be sized for reception with the tubular members


208


,


210


,


248


,


250


.




The intercommunicating and aligned channels


216


,


212


,


273


,


252


, and


256


provide a water drainage path from the top of the beam


200


to beneath the beam


240


, as do the intercommunicating and aligned channels


218


,


214


,


272


,


254


, and


258


.





FIG. 16A

illustrates further components that may, within the scope of this invention, be provided between any two spaced apart blocks of any structure according to the present invention, e.g. but not limited to, as shown for the spaced-apart blocks


220


and


260


of the beams


200


and


240


. A fitting


280


is secured to the beam


240


and may be bolted to the block


260


. Bolts through holes


281


may be used to secure the fitting


280


to the beam


240


and/or it may e welded thereto. A hollow column


283


is formed integrally of or welded to a body


282


of the fitting


280


. Secured within the column


283


is an end of a hollow tubular member


284


with an interior channel


285


therethrough from top to bottom and holes


286


for bolting a member received within the channel


285


.




As shown in

FIG. 16A

, a tubular member


287


extends between the fitting


280


and an upper fitting


290


(like the fitting


280


) on the block


220


. A fitting like the fitting


280


or


290


can be provided for any block of any structure according to the present invention. (including, but not limited to, between blocks


222


and


272


, FIGS.


13


A and


14


A). As shown in

FIG. 16

, the structure has a floor


288


, a roof


289


, a wall


290


, an insulation layer


291


, an interior wall


292


, and a roof apron, lip or side piece


293


. A combination of beams according to the present invention, like the beams


200


and


240


can be used at the ends of any structure, including but not limited to, at the ends of a portable building, including, but not limited to, for any building disclosed herein, including, but not limited to, any building according to the present invention, or for a side of any such structure or building. The tubular members


287


and/or the walls of the building may be load bearing members that support the roof and associated structure. Also, it is within the scope of this invention to provide side beams on one or both sides of a building, top and/or bottom, with one, two or more ISO fittings within the beam(s) like, e.g. the fittings or blocks


220


,


222


(FIG.


13


A).





FIGS. 19A and 19B

show a top corner fitting


300


according to the present invention which may be used with a beam or header according to the present invention, including, but not limited to, with a beam like the beam


200


, FIG.


13


A.




The fitting


300


has a body


302


with a plurality of holes


303


therethrough for securing the fitting


300


with bolts to a beam, and/or welding may be used for such securement. A hollow column


304


interconnected with the body


302


has an exposed top open end


306


and a channel


308


therethrough from top to bottom. A portion


310


of the column


304


projects down from the body


302


. A tubular member


312


has an upper end


313


secured within the column


304


and a lower end


314


that projects down for receipt within or emplacement around a tubular support used with the fitting. A fitting


300


can replace, e.g., the tubular member


208


, FIG.


13


A.





FIG. 20A

shows a bottom corner fitting


320


according to the present invention which may be used with a beam or header according to the present invention, including, but not limited to, with a beam


240


, FIG.


14


A.




The fitting


320


has a body


322


with a plurality of holes


323


therethrough for securing the fitting


320


with bolts to a beam, and/or welding may be used for such securement. A hollow column


324


interconnected with the body


322


has a channel


328


therethrough from top to bottom and an upper end


326


that projects upwardly beyond the body


302


. The upper end


326


can receive and hold an end of a tubular support member extending between two beams, or such a tubular support member's end can be emplaced around the end


326


, encompassing it.





FIGS. 21A and 21B

show a support column


330


which may be used as a tubular support member for any structure herein. The column


330


has an optional channel


332


therethrough from top


333


to bottom


334


. Arms


335


,


336


formed integrally of the column


330


or secured thereto extend out from the column


330


and are positioned for attachment thereto of part of another structural component, e.g., but not limited to, a wall, a board, or a panel. Holes


337


may be used to effect such attachment. Optionally, a tubular member


338


may have one of its ends received and held within the end


333


of the column


330


and be inserted within a corresponding opening in another adjacent structural member.





FIG. 22

shows two structures


340


,


341


(like the structure shown in

FIG. 15

) one on top of the other with blocks


342


,


343


of the structure


340


(like the blocks


220


,


222


,

FIG. 15

) resting on blocks


344


,


345


of the structure


341


(like the blocks


260


,


252


, FIG.


15


). The blocks


344


,


345


may be sized and positioned to act as load bearing members for the structure


340


. Also, optional solid or tubular load bearing members


287


a (shown in dotted line), e.g. like the tubular members


287


(

FIG. 16A

) may be used between each part of an upper and a lower block. Buildings as shown in

FIG. 22

may also have side beams with integral ISO fittings (one, two, or more as described above) with or without load bearing members between pairs of upper and lower fittings.




It is within the scope of this invention to have a structure with two spaced-apart structures (like the structure


340


) resting on a corresponding structure beneath which also has two spaced-apart structures (like the structure


340


), i.e., with four blocks of the upper structure resting on four correspondingly-positioned blocks of the lower structure.





FIGS. 23A and 23B

illustrate that buildings according to the present invention, including, but not limited to buildings as in

FIGS. 13A-22

, may be mounted on a skid S of suitable size and dimensions, e.g. as building B


1


in

FIG. 23A

; or skid ends E of suitable length may be welded or bolted to suitable structural members, e.g. beams in

FIG. 23B

of building B


2


. Either the skid S (

FIG. 23A

) or side beams A (FIG.


23


B), may have optional suitable openings or recesses R for receiving forks or shafts of a lifting machine, e.g. a forklift. Skid ends E may optionally, be mounted to the ends of upper beams, e.g. to the upper beams of the structures of

FIGS. 15

,


16


A and


22


.




The present invention, therefore, provides in certain if not all embodiments a portable building structure with a bottom section, a top section on the bottom section, the bottom section having at least one bottom support for supporting the top section, the at least one bottom support having a top opening, and the top section having at least one top support with a lower member projecting down into the top opening of the at least one bottom support. Such a building structure may have one, some (in any combination) or all of the following: wherein the at least one bottom support is a plurality of bottom supports that support the top section; a roof over the top section and secured thereto; a skid, the bottom section mounted on the skid; the skid with at least one upwardly projecting hollow skid support with a top opening, the bottom section has at least one downwardly projecting bottom member projecting into and held in the top opening of the at least one hollow skid member; wherein the at least one upwardly projecting hollow skid support is a plurality of hollow skid supports and the at least one downwardly projecting bottom member is a plurality of bottom members, one bottom member corresponding to each of the plurality of upwardly projecting hollow skid supports; at least one cross member extending within and from one interior side of the bottom section, the lower member of the at least one top support contacting the at least one cross-member; wherein the bottom section has an interior and the at least one cross member extends completely across the interior of the bottom section; wherein the at least one cross-member is a plurality of stop members; wherein the top opening of the bottom support has a funnel-shaped portion; at least one brace connected to both the top section and the bottom section; at least one brace connected to the roof and to the top section; the top section including a roof truss; a roof covering on the roof truss; and/or a floor extending across a lower portion of the top section.




The present invention, therefore, provides in certain if not all embodiments, a portable building structure with a bottom section, a top section on the bottom section, the bottom section having at least one bottom support for supporting the top section, the at least one bottom support having a top opening, and the top section having at least one top support with a lower member projecting down into the top opening of the at least one bottom support, wherein the at least one bottom support is a plurality of bottom supports that support the top section, a roof over the top section and secured thereto, a skid, the bottom section mounted on the skid, the skid has at least one upwardly projecting hollow skid support with a top opening, the bottom section has at least one downwardly projecting bottom member projecting into and held in the top opening of the at least one hollow skid member, wherein the at least one upwardly projecting hollow skid support is a plurality of hollow skid supports and the at least one downwardly projecting bottom member is a plurality of bottom members, one bottom member corresponding to each of the plurality of upwardly projecting hollow skid supports, the top section including a roof truss, a roof covering on the roof truss, and a floor extending across a lower portion of the top section.




The present invention, therefore, provides in certain if not all embodiments, a bottom section for a building structure, the bottom section having a plurality of support pillars interconnected by interconnection members, each support pillar of the plurality of support pillars having an enlarged top opening for receiving a lower member of an upper section to be emplaced on the bottom section.




The present invention, therefore, provides in certain if not all embodiments, a portable building structure with a bottom section, a top section on the bottom section, the bottom section having at least one bottom support for supporting the top section, the at least one bottom support having a top opening, the top section having at least one top support with a lower member projecting down into the top opening of the at least one bottom support, and a sub-pillar with a portion within the at least one bottom support and a portion within the at least one top support. Such a structure may have one, some (in any possible combination) or all of the following: at least one bolt securing the sub-pillar to at least one of the at least one bottom supports and at least one top support; at least one cross member extending within and from one interior side of the bottom section, the lower member of the at least one top support contacting the at least one cross-member; at least one releasable detent mechanism on the sub-pillar with a detent releasably extending through a hole in the at least one bottom support; a funnel member in the bottom section, the sub-pillar having a lower tapered end for receipt within the funnel member; a roof over the top section and secured thereto, a skid, the bottom section mounted on the skid, the top section including a roof truss, a roof covering on the roof truss, and a floor extending across a lower portion of the top section; and/or the skid has at least one upwardly projecting hollow skid support with a top opening, and the bottom section has at least one downwardly projecting bottom member projecting into and held in the top opening of the at least one hollow skid member.




The present invention, therefore, provides in certain if not all embodiments, a portable building structure with a roof truss with at least one roof truss support projecting downwardly therefrom, a skid with at least one skid support projecting upwardly therefrom, the roof truss on the skid, and a portion of one of the supports received within the other support. Such a structure may have one, some (in any possible combination) or all of the following: a roof covering on the roof truss, a lower portion of the roof covering sealingly contacting the skid; wherein the lower portion of the roof covering extends downwardly encompassing the skid; wherein the roof truss and the skid define a storage space therebetween; building components within the storage space for making a building with the roof truss; and/or wherein the building components include walls for the building.





FIG. 24

shows a building


420


(exploded view) according to the present invention which is like a prior art building except for covering material, which in one aspect is spray-on material on the components of the building. The cross-hatching on the various components indicates coating, e.g. a layer of coating or covering material, i.e., sprayed-on material, e.g., but not limited to, a layer of sprayed-on thermoplastic polyurea, sprayed-on thermoplastic polyurethane material, or sprayed-on thermoplastic polyurethane/polyurea. In one aspect the coating of such sprayed-on material is applied by known apparatus to a desired thickness, e.g. between about {fraction (1/16)}″ to ⅜″. A floor


422


rests on a support


424


(which can be any known skid, foundation, or support). The floor


422


has a coating


423


of covering material. Optionally an underside of the floor


422


is also coated with the covering material and/or edges


421


are similarly, optionally, coated as, optionally, are the edges of the other components of the building


420


. The support


424


has a coating


425


of covering material. An underside surface of the support


424


may also be coated. An interior surface


427


of each side walls


428


is coated with coating


426


of covering material and, optionally, outside surfaces


429


may also be coated with a coating


430


of covering material. An interior surface


431


of an end wall


430


is coated with a coating


433


of covering material and, optionally, an exterior surface


432


is also coated with a coating


437


of covering material. A roof structure or truss


436


has a top coating or layer


439


of covering material and its sides


435


are also coated with a coating


437


of covering material. An underside of the roof truss


436


may also be coated with covering material. Alternatively, only exterior surfaces of the building


420


may be coated with covering material, prior to or following assembly. An end wall


450


with a door opening


456


has an exterior surface


452


with a coating


454


of covering material. The interior of the end wall


450


may also be coated with covering material.




Any part or component of the building


420


may be coated, covered, or layered partially or entirely, interiorly and/or exteriorly, with any coating, covering, or material disclosed herein.




In one aspect the building


420


is a portable building, movement of the building


420


is facilitated by its emplacement on the support


424


. In one aspect wheels (not shown) on axles (not shown) may be mounted beneath the building with appropriate associated structure for transport of the building.




Sub-components of the building


420


may include any known structures and apparatus, e.g., but not limited to, galvanized corners


440


(one at each corner, one shown) and roof corners


442


may be coated exteriorly and/or interiorly, prior to or following building assembly. Any known gasket material and/or sealing material may be used to seal any interface between parts of the building


420


.





FIGS. 25A and 25B

show a building


500


according to the present invention with a floor


522


(like the floor


422


) and a roof


536


(like the roof truss


436


). The floor and roof may be coated with covering material as are the floor and roof of the building


420


. Braces or pillars


502


are securable to the floor


522


to support the roof


536


.




Side walls


504


, an end wall


506


, and an end wall


508


are “soft sided,” i.e. they are non-rigid. In certain aspects these walls are made of flexible plastic sheet material, Nylon, blanket material, fiberglass blanket material, rubber sheets, canvass, or cloth. In other aspects these “soft sided” walls include one or more layers of the previously mentioned materials and one or more layers of insulation materials, including, but not limited to bubble wrap material, cellulose sheets or pads, and/or fiberglass insulation. In other aspects, these walls may be made of air inflatable parts or modules. In other aspects, supports or pillars, including but not limited to pillars such as the pillars


302


above, may be air inflatable structures or modules.




The walls may be secured, releasably or permanently, to the floor, braces and/or roof with suitable fasteners, grommets, glue, adhesive and/or Velcro™ material. Also or alternatively, the edges of adjacent walls may be fixed, releasably or permanently, to each other. Holes and/or transparent portions may be provided in any wall.





FIG. 25B

shows the components of the building


500


stored within the roof


536


(with the flexible walls folded to fit within the roof). The floor


522


is optional, or if properly sized, may serve as a cover over the roof opening as in

FIG. 25C

(instead of being sized to fit within the hollow roof as shown in FIG.


25


B). The floor itself may be made of multiple parts.





FIG. 25D

shows an alternative embodiment of the roof


536


in which the roof comprises two hollow parts


538


and


539


which are either hingedly connected or stackable as shown. Building components within the roof parts are indicated by dotted lines.




Alternatively, one or more of the walls of the building


500


may be rigid and coated with covering material as described above. In one aspect the floor is rigid and hollow, the roof is soft-sided, and the building components are all storable within the floor. In one such aspect the top of the floor and all wall interiors are coated with covering material. Alternative a skid end may be welded or bolted to one or both building ends. Instead of the floor


522


, the building may be mounted on any suitable skid. It is also within the scope of this invention for the roof and braces to support a second (third, and/or fourth or more) additional stories above the roof


536


.





FIG. 26

shows a multi-story building


650


according to the present invention with a roof


656


(like the roof


636


, FIG.


25


A), an intermediate floor


552


(like the floor


522


,

FIG. 25A

) and a floor


554


(like the floor


522


,

FIG. 25A

; or a known skid). All of the walls


553


,


554


,


555


,


556


,


557


,


558


(and walls not visible in the view of

FIG. 26

) are soft-sided as discussed above. Alternatively, one or some of these walls may be rigid. Frame elements


559


may be wood, steel, rigid plastic, air inflatable structures, and/or any suitable support material. Frame elements are used around the building as needed.




In one aspect the walls of the first story may be rigid and the walls of the second story are soft-sided, or vice-versa. Each story may be an individual module mountable on a story below and in certain aspects, supporting a story above.




A hollow roof


556


and a hollow floor


552


are combinable to form a storage/shipping container for all or the major part of the building's components. In another aspect a hollow roof is covered by the floor to form the container. Alternatively (as in

FIG. 25D

) either the roof


556


or the floor


552


or both may be made of stackable and/or connectible parts.




Buildings as the buildings


500


and


550


are easily transportable and, with appropriate component sizing, are helicopter-transportable. The roof and/or floors and/or walls of such buildings may be coated as previously described herein.




The present invention, therefore, provides in certain if not all embodiments, a beam for a portable building structure, the beam having a body with two spaced-apart ends, at least two blocks in the body, in one aspect of the size of standard ISO corner fittings, each block with at least one eye therein for lifting, each of the at least two blocks spaced-apart from each other and spaced-apart from the two spaced-apart ends of the body. Such a beam with one, some (in any possible combination) or all of the following: at least one water drainage channel through the beam from top to bottom; wherein said channel is located at an end of the beam; wherein the at least one water drainage channel is a first water drainage channel in one end of the beam and a second water drainage channel in the other end of the beam; and/or a tubular support member on and projecting from each block.




The present invention, therefore, provides in certain if not all embodiments, a structure comprising a first structure with a first beam and a second beam, each beam with a body with two spaced-apart ends, at least two blocks in the body of the size of standard ISO corner fittings, each of the at least two blocks spaced-apart from each other and spaced-apart from the two spaced-apart ends of the body, the blocks of the first beam aligned with the blocks of the second beam forming pairs of upper and lower blocking, each beam having a tubular support on and projecting from each block, a tubular member extending between the tubular supports of each pair of upper and lower blocks, each tubular member having two ends with an upper end projecting into the tubular support corresponding to an upper block and a lower end projecting into the tubular support corresponding to a lower block. Such a structure may have one, some (in any possible combination) any or all of the following: a structure with a third beam and a fourth beam, each of the third and fourth beams with a body with two spaced-apart ends, at least two blocks in the body of the size of standard ISO corner fittings, each of the at least two blocks spaced-apart from each other and spaced-apart from the two spaced-apart ends of the body, the blocks of the first beam aligned with the blocks of the second beam forming pairs of upper and lower blocking, each beam of the third and fourth beams having a tubular support on and projecting from each block, a tubular member extending between the tubular supports of each pair of upper and lower blocks, each tubular member having two ends with an upper end projecting into the tubular support corresponding to an upper block and a lower end projecting into the tubular support corresponding to a lower block, the first beam and third beams spaced-apart from each other and disposed above and apart from the second beam and fourth beams, the second and fourth beams spaced-apart from each other, a roof on the first and third beams, and a floor on the second and fourth beams; a plurality of walls encompassing a space between the roof and floor; wherein the roof, walls and floor are secured to the beams without welding; the roof and the floor interconnected and spaced-apart by a plurality of removable support members, an inner surface of the roof and an inner surface of the floor defining a storage space therebetween; a plurality of building components in the storage space for converting the structure into a building; wherein the plurality of building components includes a plurality of wall support columns and of walls for encompassing and walling off the storage space; the plurality of building components further comprising at least one door and at least one window for the building; wherein the walls are soft-sided flexible material; wherein the roof has at least one roof water drainage channel therethrough, at least one of the removable support members has a support water drainage channel therethrough, and the floor has at least one floor water drainage channel therethrough, the at least one water, support, and floor water drainage channels aligned to drain water from the roof; wherein the at least one roof, floor and support water drainage channels are a plurality of each so that there are multiple water drains from the roof; the first and third beams interconnected by a pair of spaced-apart roof side beams, and the second and fourth beams interconnected by a pair of spaced-apart floor beams; at least two roof blocks in each of the pair of spaced-apart roof side beams, each of said blocks of the size of standard ISO corner fittings, each block with at least one eye therein for lifting, and at least two floor blocks in each of the pair of spaced-apart floor beams, each of said blocks of the size of standard ISO corner fittings, each block with at least one eye therein for lifting; and/or at least one of the floor beams having recesses suitable for receiving and holding forks of a fork lift machine. In one particular aspect there are two such structures one on top of the other with the floor blocks of one (or at least two floor blocks of one) resting on corresponding roof blocks of the other.




In conclusion, therefore, it is seen that the present invention and the embodiments disclosed herein and those covered by the appended claims are well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends set forth. Certain changes can be made in the subject matter without departing from the spirit and the scope of this invention. It is realized that changes are possible within the scope of this invention and it is further intended that each element or step recited in any of the following claims is to be understood as referring to all equivalent elements or steps. The following claims are intended to cover the invention as broadly as legally possible in whatever form it may be utilized. The invention claimed herein is new and novel in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 102 and satisfies the conditions for patentability in § 102. The invention claimed herein is not obvious in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §


103


and satisfies the conditions for patentability in § 103. This specification and the claims that follow are in accordance with all of the requirements of 35 U.S.C. § 112. The inventors may rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the scope of their invention and of the claims that follow as they may pertain to apparatus not materially departing from, but outside of, the literal scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. A beam for a portable building structure, the beam comprisinga body with two spaced-apart ends, at least two blocks in the body of the size of standard ISO corner fittings, each block with at least one eye therein for lifting, each of the at least two blocks spaced-apart from each other and spaced-apart from the two spaced-apart ends of the body, and a tubular support member on and projecting from each block.
  • 2. The beam of claim 1 further comprisingat least one water drainage channel through the beam from top to bottom.
  • 3. The beam of claim 2 wherein the at least one water drainage channel is located at an end of the beam.
  • 4. The beam of claim 1 wherein each of the at least two blocks is of the size of a standard ISO corner fitting.
  • 5. A structure comprising a first structure with a first beam and a second beam, each beam comprisinga body with two spaced-apart ends, at least two blocks each with at least one lifting eye, each of the at least two blocks spaced-apart from each other and spaced-apart from the two spaced-apart ends of the body, the blocks of the first beam aligned with the blocks of the second beam forming pairs of upper and lower blocking, each beam having a tubular support on and projecting from each block, a tubular member extending between the tubular supports of each pair of upper and lower blocks, each tubular member having two ends with an upper end projecting into the tubular support corresponding to an upper block and a lower end projecting into the tubular support corresponding to a lower block.
  • 6. The structure of claim 5 further comprisinga second structure with a third beam and a fourth beam, each of the third and fourth beams comprising a body with two spaced-apart ends, at least two blocks in the body of the size of standard ISO corner fittings, each of the at least two blocks spaced-apart from each other and spaced-apart from the two spaced-apart ends of the body, the blocks of the third beam aligned with the blocks of the fourth beam forming pairs of upper and lower blocking, each beam of the third and fourth beams having a tubular support on and projecting from each block, a tubular member extending between the tubular supports of each pair of upper and lower blocks, each tubular member having two ends with an upper end projecting into the tubular support corresponding to an upper block and a lower end projecting into the tubular support corresponding to a lower block, the first beam and third beams spaced-apart from each other and disposed above and apart from the second beam and fourth beams, the second and fourth beams spaced-apart from each other, a roof on the first and third beams, and a floor on the second and fourth beams.
  • 7. The structure of claim 6 further comprising a plurality of walls encompassing a space between the roof and floor.
  • 8. The structure of claim 6 wherein the roof, walls and floor are secured to the beams without welding.
  • 9. The structure of claim 6 further comprisingthe roof and the floor interconnected and spaced-apart by a plurality of removable support members, an inner surface of the roof and an inner surface of the floor defining a storage space therebetween.
  • 10. The structure of claim 9 further comprisinga plurality of building components in the storage space for converting the structure into a building.
  • 11. The structure of claim 10 wherein the plurality of building components includes a plurality of wall support columns and of walls for encompassing and walling off the storage space.
  • 12. The structure of claim 11 further comprisingthe plurality of building components further comprising at least one door and at least one window for the building.
  • 13. The structure of claim 11 wherein the walls are soft-sided flexible material.
  • 14. The structure of claim 9 wherein the roof has at least one roof water drainage channel therethrough, at least one of the removable support members has a support water drainage channel therethrough, and the floor has at least one floor water drainage channel therethrough, the at least one water, support, and floor water drainage channels aligned to drain water from the roof.
  • 15. The structure of claim 14 wherein the at least one roof, floor and support water drainage channels are a plurality of each so that there are multiple water drains from the roof.
  • 16. The structure of claim 6 further comprisingthe first and third beams interconnected by a pair of spaced-apart roof side beams, and the second and fourth beams interconnected by a pair of spaced-apart floor beams.
  • 17. The structure of claim 16 further comprisingat least two roof blocks in each of the pair of spaced-apart roof side beams, each of said roof blocks with at least one eye therein for lifting, and at least two floor blocks in each of the pair of spaced-apart floor beams, each of said floor blocks with at least one lifting eye.
  • 18. The structure of claim 17 further comprisingat least one of the floor beams having recesses suitable for receiving and holding forks of a fork lift machine.
  • 19. Two structures each comprising a first structure and a second structure as in claim 17, one on top of the other with the floor blocks of one resting on the roof blocks of the other.
RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/276,895 filed Mar. 25, 1999 which is incorporated fully herein for all purposes. This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/280,455 filed Mar. 30, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,470, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/033,968, filed on Mar. 3, 1998 entitled “Roof and Portable Building,”, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,969 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/887,167 filed Jul. 2, 1997 entitled “Roof And Portable Building” issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,992 on Feb. 2, 1999, all co-owned with the present invention, all applications and patents incorporated fully herein for all purposes.

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Continuation in Parts (4)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/280455 Mar 1999 US
Child 09/565113 US
Parent 09/276895 Mar 1999 US
Child 09/280455 US
Parent 09/033968 Mar 1998 US
Child 09/276895 US
Parent 08/887167 Jul 1997 US
Child 09/033968 US