Building System

Abstract

A building system (10) comprising a first module (12) having a first and second ring members (14, 16). A channel (24) is provided around each of the ring members (14, 16) and brackets (20) are provided for engagement with the ring members (14, 16). Each bracket (20) comprises a base portion (36) receivable in the channel (24) and connecting portion (38) extending from the base portion (36). The base portion (36) comprises a planar central portion (42) and side portions (40, 41). When received in the channel (24), the side portions (40, 41) are located adjacent and secured to upper and lower walls (30, 31) of the ring members (14, 16). The connecting portion (38) comprises a planar wall portion extending from the central portion (36) to engage with cross members (26) of the building module to support a floor structure or a roof structure.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A building system comprising: at least a first module comprising a first ring member and a second ring member, the second ring member being supported above the first ring member by a plurality of uprights; a channel provided around each of the first and second ring members; a plurality of brackets provided for engagement with the each of the first and second ring members, each bracket comprising a base portion receivable in the channel and connecting portion extending outwardly from the base portion; wherein the base portion comprises a planar central portion and planar first and second side portions extending transversely to the central portion from opposed sides thereof such that, when received in the channel, the first and second side portions are located adjacent upper and lower walls of the ring member and securable to the upper and lower walls of the ring member by fasteners passed through the upper and lower walls and openings provided in the first and second side portions, and where the connecting portion comprises a planar wall portion extending outwardly from the central portion and having holes for receiving fasteners to engage with cross members of the building module provided to support a floor structure or a roof structure.

13. The building system in accordance with claim 12, wherein each of the first and second ring members comprises a plurality of elongate members connected together at the uprights.

14. The building system in accordance with claim 13, wherein each of the elongate members is C-shaped in transverse cross-section to define the channel.

15. The building system in accordance with claim 14, wherein each of the elongate members comprises upper and lower walls connected by a vertical side wall such that when the base portion of the bracket is received within the channel, the central portion is adjacent and perpendicular to the side wall, the first side portion is adjacent and parallel to the upper wall and the second side portion is adjacent and parallel to the lower wall.

16. The building system in accordance with claim 15, wherein each of the upper and lower walls includes an inwardly facing transverse lip along the distal edge thereof.

17. The building system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the height of the base portion of the bracket extending from the first side portion to the second side portion is such that the base portion may be slid into the channel and retained in place by the lips on the upper and lower walls.

18. The building system in accordance with claim 17, wherein the height of the connecting portion is less than that of the base portion such that the connecting portion may pass outwardly between the lips of the upper and lower walls.

19. The building system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the connection portion is coplanar with the central portion of the base portion.

20. The building system in accordance with claim 12, wherein a third ring member is provided to be secured above the second ring member such that the cross members of the first and second ring members support a floor structure and the cross members of the third ring member support a roof structure.

21. The building system in accordance with claim 12, wherein upwardly extending struts of the roof structure are connectable to the connecting portions of the brackets on at least a first side of the ring member.

22. The building system in accordance with claim 21, wherein rafters are provided each connecting to an upper ends one of the struts on the first side of the ring member and connecting to a further bracket connected to the first side portion of one of the brackets on a second side of the ring member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the wall structure of a building module in accordance with the building system of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 2a is an upper perspective view of the frame of the building module of FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 2b is a close up view of the one of the uprights of the building module of FIG. 2a;

[0024] FIG. 3a is an exploded view of the upright of FIG. 2b;

[0025] FIG. 3b is a close up view of the upright of FIG. 3a;

[0026] FIG. 4a is an upper perspective view of the frame of the building comprising a pair of stacked building modules;

[0027] FIG. 4b is a close up view of the one of the uprights of the building module of FIG. 4a;

[0028] FIG. 5a is an exploded view of the upright of FIG. 4b;

[0029] FIG. 5b is a close up view of the upright of FIG. 5a;

[0030] FIG. 6a is an upper perspective view of the building module with roof structure and base supports;

[0031] FIG. 6b is an end view of the building module of FIG. 6;

[0032] FIG. 6c is a side view of the bracket of the building system of the present invention connecting the upper ring member to the roof structure;

[0033] FIG. 6d is a first upper perspective view showing the bracket connected to the roof structure with the upper ring member removed for clarity;

[0034] FIG. 6c is a second upper perspective view showing the bracket connected to the roof structure with the upper ring member removed for clarity;

[0035] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bracket of the building system;

[0036] FIG. 8 is a first perspective view showing the bracket connecting between the upper ring member and the roof structure;

[0037] FIG. 9 is a second perspective view showing the bracket connecting between the upper ring member and the roof structure;

[0038] FIG. 10a is a first side view showing connection between the upper ring member and the roof structure;

[0039] FIG. 10b is a second side view showing connection between the upper ring member and the roof structure;

[0040] FIG. 11 is a close up view of the connection of FIG. 8; and

[0041] FIG. 12 is a close up view of the connection of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] Referring to the Figures, there is shown a building system 10 for constructing a building structure comprising one or more modules 12. Each of the modules 12 comprises generally a first ring member 14, a second ring member 16 and a plurality of uprights 22. The first ring member 14 is located below the second ring member 16 and the uprights 22 extend upwardly from the first ring member 14 to the second ring member 16. In the embodiment shown, the first and second ring members 14 and 16 are each rectangular and the uprights 22 extend between corresponding corners of the first and second ring members 14 and 16.

[0043] The module 12 may be enclosed by installing a plurality of wall panels 11 around the periphery of the module 12 extending between the first and second ring members 14 and 16. A floor structure is installed across the first ring member 14 for supporting floor panels 13 and a roof structure is provided extending across the second ring member 16 for supporting roof panels (not shown).

[0044] The first ring member 14 includes an inwardly facing channel 24. The channel 24 is provided for receiving a plurality of brackets 20. The brackets 20 are spaced around the ring member 14 for connection to cross members 26. The cross members 26 of the first ring member 14 in the embodiment shown comprise the floor structure to which the floor panels 13 may be secured.

[0045] The second ring member 16 also includes an inwardly facing channel 24. The channel 24 is also provided for receiving a plurality of brackets 20 such that the brackets 20 are spaced around the second ring member 16 for connection to cross members 26. The cross members 26 of the second ring member 14 in the embodiment shown comprise part of the roof structure to which the roof panels (not shown) may be secured.

[0046] Each of the first and second ring members 14 and 16 in the embodiment shown comprises a plurality of elongate members 28 connected together at the uprights 22. Each of the elongate members 28 is C-shaped in transverse cross-section to define the channel 24. Each of the elongate members 28 therefore comprises upper and lower walls 30 and 31 connected by a vertical side wall 32. Each of the upper and lower walls 30 and 31 includes a transverse lip 34 along the distal edge thereof. The lip 34 along the upper wall 30 is downwardly facing and the lip 34 on the upper wall 31 is upwardly facing in use.

[0047] Each of the brackets 20 comprises a base portion 36 provided to be received within the channel 24 by sliding into an end of the channel 24 and a connecting portion 38 which extends outwardly from the channel 24 in use to connect to an end of one of the cross members 26.

[0048] The base portion 36 is generally U-shaped such that the base portion 36 comprises first and second side portions 40 and 41 and a central portion 42. Each of the first and second side portions 40 and 41 and the central portion 42 is planar. The base portion 36 is to be received within the channel 24 such that the central portion 42 is adjacent and perpendicular to the side wall 32, the first side portion 40 is adjacent and parallel to the upper wall 30 and the second side portion 41 is adjacent and parallel to the lower wall 31.

[0049] The height of the base portion 36 of the bracket 20 extending from the first side portion 40 to the second side portion 41 in the embodiment shown is such that the base portion 36 may be slid into the channel 24 and retained in place by the lips 34 on the upper and lower walls 30 and 31. The height of the connecting portion 38 is less than that of the base portion 36 such that the connecting portion 38 may pass outwardly between the lips 34 of the upper and lower walls 30 and 31.

[0050] The first and second side portions 40 and 41 include openings 44 for receiving fasteners 46 passed through corresponding openings made in the upper and lower walls 30 and 31 of the elongate members 28. The openings 44 in the embodiment shown comprise slots. The fasteners 46 in the embodiment shown comprise bolts passed through the openings 44 to engage with corresponding nuts.

[0051] The connecting portion 38 comprises a planar wall being coplanar with the central portion 42 of the base portion 36 of bracket 20. The connecting portion 38 includes a plurality of holes 48 for receiving fasteners 46 passed through corresponding holes in the cross members 26.

[0052] In use, the first ring member 14 is secured to a suitable location by base supports 50 secured to the ground. The second ring member 16 is supported directly above the first ring member 14 by connection to the uprights 22 extending upwardly from the corners of the first ring member 14. A plurality of the brackets 20 are slid into appropriate locations within the channel 24. In the embodiment shown, the brackets 20 are provided in the elongate members 28 forming the long sides of the rectangular first and second ring members 14 and 16.

[0053] Each of the cross members 26 is secured to the connecting portion 38 of an opposed pair of brackets 20 such that the cross member 26 extends across the first ring member 14. The brackets 20 are secured to the upper and lower walls 30 and 31 of elongate members 28 by fasteners 46 such that a plurality of cross members 26 extend across between the long sides of the first ring member 14 along the length thereof.

[0054] A plurality brackets 20 are also provided within the channel 24 of the second ring member 16 in the same manner as the first ring member 14. A plurality of cross members 26 are secured across between the brackets 20 of the second ring member 16 and these cross members 26 form part of the roof structure in the case where only a single module 12 is provided.

[0055] In the embodiment shown, the roof structure includes a plurality of rafters 52 and struts 54. The struts 54 in the embodiment shown are provided on one side of the second ring member 16 and connected to the connecting portions 38 by engagement with the fasteners 46 extending through corresponding holes in lower ends of the struts 54 (as can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9). The rafters 52 are connected to upper ends of the struts 54. On the opposite side of the second ring member 16, the rafters 52 are connected by an L-shaped further bracket 56. A base wall of the further bracket 56 connects to the fastener 46 passing through the first side portion 40 of the bracket 20 and an upright wall of the further bracket 56 connects to a side of the rafter 52 (as can be seen in FIG. 6).

[0056] The building structure 10 may be formed from more than one module 12 in the stacked configuration. As can be seen in FIG. 3, this arrangement comprises a third ring member 18 supported above the second ring member 16 by further uprights 22. The cross members 26 of the second ring member 16 form support for floor panels 13 of the upper module 12 and the cross members 26 extending across the third ring member 18 form part of the roof structure of the building.

[0057] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.