GB2208081A - Portable building - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable building of substantially hemispherical shape comprises a plurality of substantially trapezoidal arcuate units 1-4 having predetermined curvatures. Each unit has an internal flange (7) along part or all of its periphery. Clip means (9) each having at least one groove bounded by resiliently deformable legs are dimensioned to accept a flange of each of two adjacent units whereby the units are joined. The clip means may be linear and have a single groove to join two units, or may be T-shaped or cross-shaped to join two or more units at the corners thereof. An additional unit (5) may be provided for connecting together the units at the apex of the building. <IMAGE>

Description

PORTABLE BUILDING The present invention relates to a portable building of substantially hemispherical shape. In this connection, hemispherical should also be taken to include hemiellipsoidal and hemipolyhedral shaped buildings.

More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a portable building comprising a plurality of assemblable and disassemblable units.

Geodesic structures are known which comprise a rigid framework to which is attached a covering material of some sort. Such buildings are stable but are not always easy to erect, since first the framework must be assembled, and then the covering applied.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable building which is stable and simple to assemble and disassemble.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable building having a substantially hemispherical shape and comprising a plurality of substantially trapezoidal arcuate units having predetermined curvatures and each having an internal flange along part or all of its periphery, and clip means each having at least one groove bounded by resiliently deformable legs and dimensioned to accept a flange of each of two adjacent units whereby the units are joined.

The clip means may be linear and have a single groove.

Additional or alternative clip means may be T-shaped and/or cross-shaped, whereby they are adapted to join two or more units at the corners thereof.

Preferably the building comprises a first base circle comprising in the region of twenty substantially identical units, topped by a second circle comprising a similar number of smaller units, each identical toone another, and so on upwardly.

In this case, the upper length dimension of a lower unit should be the same as the lower length dimension of an upper unit.

Door means and optionally window means may be provided. In one embodiment, the window means are of transparent or translucent material and comprise all or part of one or more units. Indeed, all the units may be transparent, in which case the building may find utility as a greenhouse.

An additional unit may be provided for connecting together the units at the apex of the building. Such an additional unit may be a circular segment substantially of predetermined curvature and comprising means to grip a portion of each adjacent nit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable building having a substantially hemispherical shape and comprising a plurality of substantially trapezoidal arcuate wall units having predetermined curvatures, each unit being substantially rigid and detachably joined to adjacent units, and an apex unit provided with slot means configured and dimensioned to accept substantially planar extension portions of an uppermost circle of wall units.

Preferably each slot means comprises at each edge an inwardly directed L-cross-section flange extending radially inwardly from the periphery of the apex unit.

Advantageously the extension portions of the uppermost wall units extend substantially across their entire width and the flanges of the apex unit are formed as T-cross-sections to define an edge of two adjacent slot means.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a building embodying the invention; FIGURE 2 is a view, in separated condition, of an apex unit of the building; FIGURE 3 is a plan view of an apex unit; FIGURE 4 is a cross-section taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3; FIGURE 5 is a cross-section taken along the line V-V of Figure 3; FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a connecting clip; FIGURE 7 is a view of the connecting clip in use; FIGURE 8 is a view of a cross-shaped connecting clip in use; FIGURE 9 is a view of a T-shaped connecting clip in use; FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the building with the addition of an interconnecting module; and FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a group of interconnected buildings.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a building of hemispherical shape comprising a plurality, preferably between 16 and 20, of base units 1.

Each base unit 1 is substantially identical and is substantially trapezoidal shaped with a surface arcuate in both horizontal and vertical directions to a predetermined curvature. The curvature is determined by the size of the portable building.

Surmounting the ring of base units 1, is a ring of second units 2, again each identical to one another and similarly curved to the base units 1, but being smaller in size. The dimensions are in fact chosen so that the member of second units 2 is the same as the number of base units 1.

In the particular building shown, there are two more rows of units 3 and 4, capped by an apex unit 5.

A door opening 6 is shown, and this can be arranged in any manner convenient to the user. The units are shown as being arranged in columns and rows. There is, however, no reason why the units of adjacent rows cannot be staggered.

Each unit is a moulding or forming of a lightweight material, such as glass reinforced plastics or even a rigid plastics material without reinforcement. Other materials are possible, although it is preferred for ease of assembly that the material is light in weight.

Each unit comprises a surface portion, which is all that is seen from the outside of the building, bounded about its inner edges by-inwardly extending flanges 7.

These are moulded or formed integrally with the surface portion of the unit. A reinforcing rib 8 extends peripherally around the flanges. The reinforcing rib 8 also serves another purpose to be described below.

Referring now to Figures 6-8, there is shown in Figure 6 a clip 9. The clip has two legs 10 defining therebetween a groove 11. The legs 10 are sufficiently resiliently deformable, and the groove 11 is so dimensioned as to allow the flanges of a pair of adjacent units to be inserted into the groove 11. This is shown in Figure 7.

Once the above flanges 7 are inserted, the two units are held together, although it may be advisable to use two clips 9 for each pair. The sidewalls of the groove 11 are provided near their outer end with a pair of longitudinally extending recesses 12, located to cooperate with the reinforcing ribs 8 of the flanges. This ensures that each clip 9 is positively located to hold the units together, and also makes accidental dismantling more difficult.

Figure 8 shows a specialised form of clip which is in the form of a cross. This is adapted to join four units together by clipping them at a respective corner of each. In order to allow each arm of the cross to deform resiliently independently of the other arms, the re-entrant corners may be provided with a notch 13.

Figure 9 shows a T-shaped clip for use at the lower side of the base units 1. In this case, the stem of the T is adapted to accommodate two flanges, while the cross piece of the T is adapted to accommodate just one.

If it were desired to arrange the units in staggered configuration, such a clip may be used, with the exception that the crosspiece would need to accommodate a pair of flanges again.

Referring now to Figures 2-5, there is shown an apex unit and its method of use. As can be seen in Figure 5, the underside of the unit 14 is provided, at least in the zones adjacent the periphery, with radially extending T-shaped lugs 15. The lugs 15 are spaced equiangularly around the unit 14 and the number is determined by the number of base units used. As can be seen more clearly in Figure 2, the uppermost row of units 4 are provided with planar extensions 16 and these slot into and are held by the lugs 15.

In order to assemble the building, it is usual firstly to connect up the uppermost ring of units 4 to the apex unit 14 and then simultaneously or subsequently to each other. Connection in this latter case is made by using clips 9. Assembly may then proceed progressively downwardly with the building being lifted as each course is completed. The material is sufficiently lightweight to make this a relative easy task. Alternatively, having joined the apex unit 14 with the uppermost units 4, the assembly may be set aside while construction of the remaining building proceeds. In this case, construction proceeds upwardly until the apex assembly is required.

The buildings can be manufactured in a range of sizes, each to serve a respective purpose. Small buildings may be made of transparent material and be used as greenhouses or of opaque material and be used as a garden shed or the like. Larger sizes may be used for temporary meeting halls or exhibitions or in place of marquees. Many uses can be found for intermediate sizes.

For each size of building, it comprises, when disassembled, a number of identical base units 1, a similar number of identical second row units 2, and so on. It is thus extremely easy to reassemble since little care need be exercised when selecting the particular unit to be used.

Since the units are light in weight, they can easily be moved by one man and, in fact, very few men are needed to assemble or disassemble a complete building. When disassembled, the parts can easily be packed into a small space and transported in conventional road or rail trucks or even loaded into a container for transportation by sea.

The shape of the building, hemispherical, gives the building an inherent stability under most weather conditions and, once complete, each unit reinforces the next so that the structure is very strong.

There is shown in Figure 10, a further development in which the building is provided with an interconnection module 17. This comprises a number of interlocking units (using clips as described above) to form a'tunnel' leading from a doorway of the building. As can be seen from Figure 11, the buildings may thus be connected into a group, either with annular interconnection or in a radial or linear pattern (or as desired by the user).

In view of the ease of transportation and erection, such buildings or groups of buildings may find use in emergency situations, e.g. earthquake and flood disasters, for shelter, medical facilities, feeding or cooking purposes, and the like.

The interconnection modules 17 may be as long as desired (additional units being added) and may be provided with doors etc.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS:

1. A portable building having a substantially hemispherical shape and comprising a plurality of substantially trapezoidal arcuate units having predetermined curvatures and each having an internal flange along part or all of its periphery, and clip means each having at least one groove bounded by resiliently deformable legs and dimensioned to accept a flange of each of two adjacent units whereby the units are joined.

2. A building as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clip means are linear and have a single groove.

3. A building as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of said clip means are T-shaped or cross-shaped, whereby they are adapted to join two or more units at the corners thereof.

4. A building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the building comprises a first base circle comprising a plurality of substantially identical units, topped by a second circle comprising a similar number of smaller units, each identical to one another, and so on upwardly.

5. A building as claimed in claim 4, wherein the upper length dimension of a lower unit is essentially the same as the lower length dimension of an upper unit.

6. A building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an additional unit for connecting together the units at the apex of the building.

7. A portable building having a substantially hemispherical shape and comprising a plurality of substantially trapezoidal arcuate wall units having predetermined curvatures, each unit being substantially rigid and detachably joined to adjacent units, and an apex unit provided with slot means configured and dimensioned to accept substantially planar extension portions of an uppermost circle of wall units.

8. A building as claimed in claim 7, wherein each slot means comprises at each edge an inwardly directed Lcross-section flange extending radially inwardly from the periphery of the apex unit.

9. A building as claimed in claim 8, wherein the extension portions of the uppermost wall units extend substantially across their entire width and the flanges of the apex unit are formed as T-cross-sections to define an edge of two adjacent slot means.

10. A portable building substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.