MODULAR BUILDING

Abstract

A modular building includes at least one outer wall that includes at least first and second panels aligned end to end at a panel joint. Each panel includes first planks forming a part of the outer wall of the building and second planks forming a first decorative wall fixed to the outer wall. The decorative wall extends substantially perpendicular to the outer wall and terminates beyond the first planks on at least one side of the panel. The space between the first decorative wall of the panel and an adjacent decorative wall of a second panel accommodates a shelving unit or a joint cover strip that covers the panel joint.

Claims

1. A modular building, at least one outer wall of the building comprising: at least first and second panels aligned substantially in the same plane and meeting end to end at a panel joint; each first panel comprising first planks forming a part of the outer wall of the building and second planks forming a first decorative wall fixed to the outer wall and spaced from the other panel; the decorative wall extending substantially perpendicular to the outer wall and terminating beyond the first planks on at least one side of the panel; a space between the first decorative wall of the first panel and a second decorative wall of the second panel accommodating a joint cover strip which covers the panel joint.

2. A modular building as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modular building is a log cabin, and the first and second planks are actual logs, split logs, or planks profiled to resemble logs or split logs.

3. A modular building as claimed in claim 1, wherein two joint cover strips are provided to cover the panel joint on both sides of the panels.

4. A modular building as claimed in claim 1, wherein shelving is provided in the space between the first decorative wall of the first panel and the second decorative wall of the second panel.

5. A modular building as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shelving is configured to brace the first decorative wall of the first panel and the second decorative wall of the second panel and thereby provide structural support to the log cabin.

6. A modular building as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shelving comprises a plurality of shelves.

7. A modular building as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shelving is fixed to the first and second decorative walls.

8. A modular building as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shelving is fixed to the first and second decorative walls by means of releasable fixings that are inserted through the first and second decorative walls into the shelving.

9. A modular building as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first planks are interlocked one with another.

10. A modular building as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second planks are interlocked one with another.

11. A modular building as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first and/or second planks are interlocked by means of a tongued and grooved connection.

12. A modular building as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second planks are of the same width.

13. A modular building as claimed in claim 12, wherein each panel is no more than 6 feet (1.83 meters) wide so that the first planks which make up the panels can be transported upright on a standard shipping pallet.

14. A method of assembling a modular building, the method comprising the steps of: forming at least one outer wall of the modular building by assembling at least first and second panels so that they abut end to end at a panel joint, the first panel comprising first planks forming a part of the outer wall of the log cabin and second planks forming a first decorative wall fixed to the outer wall and spaced from the second panel, the first decorative wall extending substantially perpendicular to the outer wall and terminating beyond the first planks on at least one side of the first panel, and fixing a joint cover strip over the panel joint between the first decorative wall of the first panel and a second decorative wall of the second panel.

15. A method of assembling a modular building as claimed in claim 14, further comprising the step of fixing shelving in the space between the first decorative wall of the first panel and the second decorative wall of the second panel, the shelving being configured to brace the first decorative wall of the first panel relative to the second decorative wall of the second panel and thereby provide structural support to the modular building.

16. A modular building, at least one outer wall of the building comprising: at least first and second panels aligned substantially in the same plane and meeting end to end at a panel joint; the first panel comprising first planks forming a part of the outer wall of the building and second planks forming a first decorative wall fixed to the outer wall and spaced from the second panel; the decorative wall extending substantially perpendicular to the outer wall and terminating beyond the first planks on at least one side of the first panel; and shelving being fixed between the first decorative wall and a second decorative wall of the second panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular building.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the modular building with the roof removed.

[0038] FIG. 3A shows first and second planks used for making up two rear panels of the modular building.

[0039] FIG. 3B shows two rear panels aligned and abutting.

[0040] FIG. 3C shows how the gap between adjacent rear panels is covered by inner and outer cover strips.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows shelving fixed between adjacent decorative walls inside the modular building.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows the modular building stacked onto a standard shipping pallet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0043] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a modular building 2 in the form of a log cabin. The modular building is of conventional layout, with a pent roof 4, side walls 6 and 8, a front wall 10 including two full height windows 12a and 12b and French doors 14, and a rear wall 16. The windows 12a and 12b and/or French doors 14 may be provided in a pre-fabricated form. For example, they may be ready fitted into a frame so that they can be fitted quickly into place as the building 2 is assembled.

[0044] The building is modular in the sense that the side walls 6, 8, the front wall 10, and the back wall 16 are made up of panels 17 of a pre-set width. For example, each panel 17 may be 6 feet (1.83 meters) wide. As the front wall 10, side walls 6, 8, and back wall 16 are made up of panels 17, the length of these walls 6, 8, 10, 16 can be increased simply by adding additional panels 17. Also, plain panels 17 can be replaced by a variety of different door panels or window panels so that the size and layout of the modular building 2 can be changed easily, and the inventory that needs to be kept in the warehouse is minimized.

[0045] The panels 17 forming the walls 6, 8, 10, 16 are at least partly made up from individual planks 18 that may be slotted together, for example, using a tongue and groove arrangement. In the illustrated embodiment, these planks 18 are profiled and shaped to look like split logs so that the overall effect of the modular building is that of a log cabin construction. The use of contoured planks that look like split logs gives the building a distinctive and attractive overall appearance. It should, however, be appreciated that the principles of this invention could be applied to any other form of modular building made up from panels. Thus, for example, the panels 17 may include flat-faced or differently contoured or tapered planks.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 3A, at least the panels 17 forming the rear wall 16 are made up of two sizes of plank. The main part of each panel 17 is made up of first planks 18 that extend for the full width of the panel 17 and extend in a substantially horizontal direction in the plane of the rear wall 16. Referring to FIG. 3B, toward at least one edge of each panel 17, second planks 20 engage at right angles with the first planks 18 to form decorative walls 22 on the inside and outside of the modular building 2. In order for the second planks 20 to slot into and engage with the first planks 18, slots 24, 26 are formed in the sides of the second planks 20, which slots 24, 26 extend substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second planks 20, and slots 28, 30 are formed in the sides of the first planks 18, which slots 28, 30 extend substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first planks 18.

[0047] In order to assemble a panel 17, a first plank 18 is laid on a foundation (not shown) of the modular building 2. The foundation may, for example, include a concrete slab foundation. The plank 18 is laid on its long edge, and then a second plank 20 is laid on edge across the first plank 18 so that the first and second planks 18 and 20 are substantially perpendicular, and further so that the lower slot 28 of the second plank 20 engages in the upper slot 24 of the first plank 18. As these slots 24, 28 extend for a quarter of the width of the respective plank, and the first planks 18 and second planks 20 are of the same width, the second plank 20 will be suspended above the foundation by half the width of a first plank 18. Then, the next first plank 18 is slotted into place onto the upper edge of the first plank 18 so that the dovetail groove formed in the lower edge of the upper first plank 18 engages onto the dovetail rib of the lower first plank 18. As the upper first plank 18 is installed, the lower slot 26 in the upper first plank engages into the upper slot 30 in the second plank 20. The next second plank 20 is then laid on edge across the upper first plank 18 so that the first and second planks 18, 20 are substantially perpendicular, and further so that the lower slot 28 of the upper second plank 20 engages in the upper slot 24 of the upper first plank 18. This alternate laying of first and second planks 18, 20 across one another is continued until the panel 17 reaches its full design height, resulting in a panel 17 including a continuous wall of long first planks 18 interconnected with a decorative wall 22 of shorter planks 20.

[0048] This same engagement of first and second planks 18, 20 may take place simultaneously at both ends of the panel so that the finished panel 17 has decorative walls 22 at both ends, as best shown in FIG. 2.

[0049] As best shown in FIG. 3C, in order to form the rear wall 16 of the modular building 2, panels 17 are erected edge to edge and are connected together by cover strips 32a, 32b, which cover the gap between successive panels. The cover strips 32a, 32b may be fixed in any desired manner, such as by being glued, screwed, stapled, or bolted to the panels 17. It will be appreciated that as the cover strips 32a, 32b are situated between respective pairs of decorative walls 22, they are at least partially hidden, thereby improving the appearance of the inside of the modular building 2. In addition, the decorative walls 22 may project from the outside face of the rear wall 16, again presenting an attractive feature. Consequently, the decorative walls 22 are both functional and attractive. Firstly, they interconnect the first planks 18 and hold the panels 17 together and provide rigidity to the panels 17 and rear wall 16. Secondly, they provide a striking visual feature that further enhances the appearance of the modular building.

[0050] FIG. 4 shows how shelving may be fixed into the gap 33 formed between adjacent decorative walls 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the shelving includes a plurality of shelves 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d that are fixed into the gap 33 between adjacent decorative walls 22 by means of screws, which pass through holes formed in the decorative walls 22 and are screwed into the edges of respective shelves 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d. The shelves 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d are also fixed to a back board 36 in any desired manner, such as by being glued, screwed, stapled or bolted to the back board 36. The back board 36 may be fixed to the cover strip 32a, 32b or may take the place of the cover strip 32a, 32b. For example, the shelving may include a preassembled shelving unit so that the shelves 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d are fixed to the back board 36 and are used to connect adjacent panels 17 in place of a cover strip 32a or 32b. In alternative embodiments, the shelves 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d may be fixed only to the decorative panels 22 or to the decorative panels 22 and to the cover strip 32a, 32b. Any number shape of size of shelves and any structure or orientation of shelving is contemplated for use in this invention.

[0051] In addition to serving as conventional shelving within the modular building 2, the shelving serves the additional purpose of providing stiffness and structural strength to the modular building. More particularly, the shelving acts with the decorative walls 22 to form a pillar structure within the building, which provides rigidity and additional support to the rear wall 16 and roof 4 via roof trusses 35.

[0052] It will be appreciated that the lowermost second planks 20 of each decorative wall 22 will be suspended above the floor by half the width of a first plank 18 because the bottom of the lower slot 28 in the lowermost second plank 20 abuts the bottom of the upper slot 24 of the lowermost first plank 18 when the bottom edge of the second plank 20 is aligned with the center of the first plank 18. This gives the decorative walls 22 and integrated shelving an attractive “floating” appearance because the decorative walls 22 are supported indirectly off the panel 17, rather than directly off the floor or foundation of the modular building 2. Where a continuous decorative wall 22 is preferred, a half width second plank (not shown) may be slotted onto the bottom of each decorative wall 22.

[0053] As mentioned above, the planks that make up the modular building are of a pre-determined maximum length. For example, they may be no larger than 6 feet (1.83 meters) in length. This means that the planks 18, 20 can be assembled upright on a standard shipping pallet 38 as illustrated in FIG. 5. In order to support the planks 18, 20, an A-frame 40 is constructed on either end of the pallet 38. Each A-frame is formed from two members, such as boards 42, 44 extending diagonally from respective corners of the pallet 38. The boards 42, 44 are fixed to the corners of the pallet 38 and are joined together where they cross by fixings such as screws or bolts (not shown). A horizontal member, such as a rod or plank 46, interconnects the A-frames and is fixed at the points at which the boards 42, 44 cross. The horizontal member 46 provides a support against which the planks 18, 20 can be laid and fixed. To further aid in the transport of a kit for a modular building 2, the trusses or gable tops that support the roof may be provided in two pieces for assembly on site.

[0054] A whole kit for forming a small modular building 2 may be loaded onto a single pallet 38 or, for a larger building, multiple pallets 38 may be required. As the kit mounted on the pallet 38 does not extend beyond the horizontal extent of the pallet 38, and as the height of the longest component mounted vertically on the pallet 38 does not exceed the maximum load height permitted by the hauler (for example, 6 feet (1.83 meters)), the pallet 38 can be transported just like any other pallet load. As a result, loading, unloading and shipping of the modular building 2 described above is easier quicker and less expensive than for conventional modular buildings.

[0055] Because of the modular construction of the building and the interchangeability of panels mentioned above, the building is also highly configurable. The modularity and interchangeability extends to all parts of the building. For example, the window panels can be replaced, and also panels on the front, rear, or the gable ends, by selecting panels of matching dimensions. Consequently, a purchaser of the building could, for example, opt to have more window sections and fewer blank panels, or could chose a different roof design, such as a flat roof or pitched roof. The product is also adaptable enough to be confide at final fitting stage, rather than any bespoke tailoring having to take place prior to manufacturing. Also, at some time after construction, the purchaser could choose to modify or extend the building just by purchasing additional wall panels, roof panels, windows, and/or doors.

[0056] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example with reference to one or more exemplary examples, it is not limited to the disclosed examples, and that alternative examples could be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.