US3356381A

US3356381A - Mobile building with towing bracket and bracing system

Info

Publication number: US3356381A
Application number: US518270A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rich Scott Rayfield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-01-03
Filing date: 1966-01-03
Publication date: 1967-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 1984-12-05

Description

' Dec. 5, 1967 5 3,356,381

MOBIL-E BUILDING WITH TOWING BRACKET AND BRACING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 3., 1966 I5 Sheets-Sheet, 1

INVENTOR ATTORNEY-5 Dec. 5, 1967 s. R. RICH 3,356,381

MOBILE BUILDING WITH TOWING BRACKET AND BRACING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 3, 1966 v efi'j ynz 3 heets-Sheet. 2

ATTORNEYg Dec. 5, 1967 s. R. RICH 3,355,331

MOBILE BUILDING WITH TOWING BRACKET AND P-RACING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 5, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet. 15

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INVENTOR ATTORNEYS www w United States Patent 3,356,381 MOBILE BUILDING WITH TOWING BRACKET AND BRACING SYSTEM Scott Rayfield Rich, Carmichaels, Pa. 15320 Filed Jan. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 518,270 7 Claims. (Cl. 28030) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to the manner of removably bracing the walls of a mobile building structure for towing. It includes a horizontal cross bracing system comprising two removable guy cables located at the bottom of the structure and a vertical cross bracing system comprising two removable guy cables located transversely of the structure and intermediate its ends.

This invention relates broadly to the class of wheeled structures or vehicles and is directed particularly to an improved mobile building structure.

While the present invention is applicable to a movable or mobile building structure of any type, it is especially directed to an improved mobile garage structure.

When travelling by automobile an occasion may arise when it is desirable to have a building structure or a garage structure in which the motor vehicle may be temporarily left for protection from the elements or against vandalism. Accordingly, it is the particular object of the present invention to provide a wheeled housing or building structure which can be easily towed by a motorvehicle and which may be employed for housing or enclosing the motor vehicle when it may be desirable to leave the vehicle in one place for any length of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mobile building structure of the type referred to, having, in addition to suitable running'gear, a towing bracket by means of which the structure when elevated for support upon the running gear, may be readily coupled with a motor vehicle for movement over the road by the vehicle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in association with a mobile building structure having a towing bracket incorporated therein, a truss system which will secure the structure against twisting and damaging strains and also ensure safe transportation of the building while being towed at reasonable speeds and provide for better handling and braking of the moving structure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved mobile building structure and towing bracket, more particularly a mobile garage with a towing bracket incorporated therein, which building structure or garage is floorless and isprovided with means whereby it may be readily lowered to and caused to rest upon the ground following removal of running gear.

' It is also an object of the invention to provide in a structure of the character described designed to rest directly upon the earth, a means by which the structure may be secured in position upon the earth.

Many other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a mobile building structure designed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention and showing the structure in elevated position and in dotted outline in lowered position when resting upon the ground;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the structure looking into the interior thereof and showing elements of 3,356,381 Patented Dec. 5, 1967 the bracing system in use during movement or transportation of the structure;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken in a horizontal plane approximately on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken in a vertical plane approximately on the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective detail of a coupling between a bracing cable and a rafter plate supporting bracket;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section in a vertical plane taken approximately on the line 66 of FIG. 3 with portions of the structure broken away;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section taken in a horizontal plane approximately on the line 77 of FIG. 6, the section being restricted to the front right corner portion of the structure; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional detail, the section being taken approximately on the line 88 of FIG. 6.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates the mobile building or garage structure which is illustrated as embodying a front end wall 12,

side walls

14 and 16 and a top or roof 18.

The rear end of the building is closed by a sliding door structure which is generally designated 20 and which may be of any suitable construction. The door structure here shown comprises a number of individual transverse panels 22 and is supported for sliding movement in the oppositely positioned trackways 24 such as are conventionally employed for this type of sliding door structure.

One of the panels 22 of the sliding door may be provided with the window 26 as shown in FIG. 4.

The building structure 10 is designed to be used without a floor, and for housing a car or for other purposes, it is adapted to rest directly upon the surface of the earth as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, the numeral 28 designating the earth upon which the bottom or base sills of the structure are designed to rest.

The bottom part or base of the building structure comprises the longitudinal side beam sills 30 and a transverse front beam sill 32. These side and front sill beams are here illustrated as being of tubular cross section but obviously they may be of any other suitable cross sectional configuration and they are of rigid steel construction as obviously would be essential in a structure of the kind under consideration.

Overlying the side beam sills are the longitudinal rafter plates 34 which are connected together at their forward ends by a transverse plate 36.

The side rafter plates 34 are supported upon the side sill beams by the vertical studding 38. The studs or studding are secured to the supporting sill beams in a suitable manner, as, for example, by means of brackets 40, shown particularlyjin FIGS. 6 and 7 and at the front end of the structure the individual studs 42 are mounted upon the front sill beam 32 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, to which they are secured in a suitable manner as, for example, by means of the brackets 44 which, like the brackets 40, may be weldedto the supporting beams with the vertical flanges of the brackets secured to the adjacent studs by bolts 46 or in any other'suitable manner.

The rafter plates 34 support the ends of suitable trans versely extending rafters, one only of which is illustrated in FIG. 4, this being a back rafter or a rafter at the rear of the structure and is designated 48. This rafter and others in parallel relation therewith support the roof sheathing '50.

Numerals

52 and 54 respectively designate side and front wall sheathing.

One side wall, here designated the left side wall 16, may be provided with a suitable doorway 56 and window or ventilation opening 58.

At the rear of the building structure, the numeral 60 designates the vertical door opening posts.

The numeral 62, in FIG. 2, designates the facing board covering the back rafter and connecting the top ends of the door posts which are positioned upon opposite sides of the opening which the sliding door 20 is adapted to close.

The sliding door trackway 24 has the usual horizontal top track portions which extend along the inner sides of the rafter plates to support the door horizontally in open position and which curve downwardly and extend along the inner sides of the door posts 60 to maintain the door in vertical closed position as it is shown in FIG. 4, FIG 2 showing the open position of the door as will be readily apparent.

The numeral 64 designates a relatively wide towing bracket plate which extends transversely of the interior of the structure against the inner side of the front sill beam 32 as best illustrated in FIG. 6. As shown, this plate 64 extends above the beam 32 and it has secured thereto by welding or any other suitable manner the rear ends of the forwardly converging legs 66 of the tow bracket which is generally designated 68. The forward ends of the legs 66 of the tow bracket are joined in a suitable manner to provide a coupling means 70 for connecting the bracket to a conventional coupling unit such as is commonly provided for connecting trailers to the rear of an automobile and the joined together ends of the legs 66 are also designed to be secured to a vertical jack unit 72 by means of which the front end of the building structure may be raised and lowered as desired to level the structure above the earth in cooperation with the running gear at each side of the building structure. Such running gear upon each side of the building structure is generally designated 74.

Each rnning gear unit or wheel unit 74 may be of the same construction as the units illustrated in my Patent No. 3,108,820 which issued Oct. 29, 1963. These units as set forth in the patent are mounted upon suitable supporting shafts 76, carried by the adjacent wall of the structure for movement in a vertical plane. Each unit includes in its construction suitable spring means generally designated 78 which functions in a nature of a shock absorber and which is coupled in an operative manner with the adjacent wall of the housing for assisting in supporting the garage building structure upon the ground engaging wheels 80.

Associated with each of the running gear units 74 and mounted forwardly thereof upon the inner side of the housing wall, is a jack unit 82 which is employed in cooperation with the jack unit 72 for raising and lowering the building structure as necessary to facilitate removal and replacement of the running gear units.

No detailed illustration or description is here given of the wheel unit 74 or the

jack units

72 and 82 since these several units are fully illustrated and described in my issued patent above referred to and such illustration and description of these units is not believed to be necessary to a proper understanding of the towing and bracing features of the present invention.

The bracing and rigidifying system of the present invention for strengthening the building structure and facilitating the towing thereof will now be described.

At each front corner of the base frame structure embodying the front and side sill beams, there is welded or otherwise secured a triangular gusset plate 84, one of the two right angle sides of which is secured by welding or the like to the inner side of the adjacent side sill beam 30 while the other right angle side of the plate is secured by welding or the like to the inner side of the towing bracket plate 64.

Extending across the plate and connecting the ends of the right angularly related sides thereof is the upstanding flange 86 and the ends of this flange may, if desired, be joined to the upstanding right angular flanges 88 which border the right angularly related sides of the triangular late.

p The corner gusset plates 84 comprise a part of a horizontal cross bracing system. This horizontal cross bracing system which includes the gusset plates and other plates about to be described, is generally designated 90.

Included in the cross bracing system are the transversely located or positioned sill beam bracket plates 92 These bracket plates 92 are secured in substantially hOI'lzontal position, to the inner sides of the sill beams 30, directly opposite one another as shown in FIG. 2. The bracket plates 92 are each provided with the three

apertures

94, 96 and 98 for the purpose about to be described.

The vertical flange 86 of each of the corner gusset plates 84 is also provided with an aperture 100.

The horizontal cross bracing system includes the two guy cables 102. Each of these cables is secured at one end to a hook 104, which has a shank formed with an eye 106 in which a loop of the cable end is engaged and secured by the cable clamp 108.

The opposite end of each cable 102 is connected by a loop which may be formed and secured by a clamp 108 as described or by any other means and such loop 110 is engaged in the eye 112 of a long screw bolt 114 which is adapted to have the threaded end portion thereof passed through the aperture 100 in a flange 86 of a corner gusset, and secured and adjusted in the aperture by means of the nuts 116 threaded thereon.

The guy cables 102 are disposed horizontally in crossed relation as shown in FIG. 3 with the hook at one end of each cable engaged through the aperture 94 of a plate 92 and the bolt 114 at the opposite end of each of the attached cables is extended through the aperture of the gusset plate flange which is diagonally spaced across the width of the building structure and this bolt 114 is used as a draw bolt by threading the nuts 116 in the proper manner thereon so as to pull the cable taut. Thus the two guy cables extend diagonally across the building structure in crossed relation as shown in FIG. 3 and when they are drawn taut they cross brace the building in a horizontal plane substantially at the level of the base forming

sill beams

30 and 32.

In addition to the horizontal cross bracing a vertical cross bracing system is provided, which is generally desig nated 118.

This vertical cross bracing system which lies in a vertical plane transversely of the building structure includes the two cables 120 which are arranged in crossed relation as shown in FIG. 4 and each is connected between a side sill beam on one side of the building structure and the rafter plate at the top of the structure upon the opposite side thereof.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 the sill beam bracket plates are disposed forwardly of the running gear units 74 and the adjacent jack units 82.

Each of the cross bracing guy cables 120 has one end secured to a hook 122 which is adapted to be engaged through the aperture 96 of one plate 92 while the oppositeend of each guy cable 120 is secured to the eye 124 of a draw bolt 126 which is secured to the rafter plate 34 at the opposite side of the structure as shown in FIG. 4, by the means about to be described.

Disposed upon opposite sides of the building structure are the transversely spaced rafter plate brackets 128. Each of these brackets is disposed approximately directly above a plate 92 and each bracket has an end portion which extends at an angle as indicated at and this angled portion 130 of the bracket 128 has a suitable aperture to have the draw bolt 126 pass therethrough to be secured therein by means of the securing nuts 132. As will be readily seen these draw bolts 126 and the means of securing the same as well as their formation with the eyed ends for the attachment of a cable, are of the same form or construction as the draw bolts 114.

In addition to the cross bracing provided by the

guy cables

102 and 120 there is provided the transverse bracing bar 134. This bar 134 is of a length to extend transversely of the structure to couple at its ends with the plates 92 and each end of the bar is flattened as shown at 136 in FIG. 7, to lie upon a surface of the bracket plate 92 and the flattened portion of the bar is apertured to align with the third aperture of the plate, which is designated 98, to receive a securing bolt 138. Thus each of the sill beam plates 92 has secured thereto an end of the cross bar 134, a hook of one of the guy cables 120 and a hook of one of the guy cables 102.

Each of the gusset plates 84 is provided with an aperture 132, or two or more of these apertures may be provided if desired as shown.

At the opposite end or back end of each side sill beam 30 there is secured the horizontal plate 134 and each of these plates has one or more apertures 136 therein as shown in FIG. 3.

In the employment of the present invention, when the building structure is to be transported along a roadway the hitch 70 is connected in the usual or a suitable manner with the draft vehicle and the rear end of the garage or building structure is elevated upon the running gear units 74. The horizontal cross bracing system 90 is set up as shown in FIG. 3 so that a front corner of the structure will be rigidly attached to the opposite side of the building rearwardly of the front corner bracket, to a plate 92. In addition to the horizontal bracing system the vertical bracing system is also set up as shown in FIG. 4 so that each of the guy cables 120 will be drawn taut between a plate 92 at one side of the structure and the rafter plate 128 at the opposite side of the structure. Thus, when the cables are drawn tightly there will be rigid bracing transversely of the structure which will hold the structure against twisting, in cooperation with the horizontal bracing system 90, when the structure is being moved along a roadway.

In addition to the foregoing the cross bracing beam 134 will be secured in the manner illustrated.

When the mobile building has been moved to a location where it is intended to be used to house the draft vehicle or for other purposes, the jacks are employed to elevate the vehicle for the removal of the running gear units 74, after which the rear end of the building can be lowered to bring the side sill beams 32 onto the surface of the ground and the jack 72 is also employed to lower the front end of the building after the hitch has been disconnected from the draft vehicle. Thus, the sill beams may rest directly upon the surface of the ground as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6.

The building may be secured in position after it has been lowered to the ground by means of fastening bolts or stakes passed through the

apertures

132 and 136 of the plates 84 and 134' respectively. These securing stakes may be of a temporary nature or if the structure is to be permanently secured, bolts or the like may be extended through the apertures, into or through lagging or any other body by means of which proper or desired security of the building in position may be attained.

Upon removal of the vertical cross bracing guy cables 120 it will be seen that a motor vehicle or the like may be run into the garage building and also the sliding door structure 20 may then be readily closed as the cables 120 will be out of the Way. Also the transverse bar 134 may be allowed to rest upon the ground if desired together with the horizontal bracing or all of these bracing elements can be removed after the structure has been suitably staked down or fixed in position for use.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. A mobile building structure embodying side walls, a front end wall, a rear end and a roof, means supporting the structure for towing comprising running gear removably connected to the structure adjacent to the rear end thereof, hitch means connected to the front end of the structure for attachment to a draft vehicle, guy means within the structure extending from side-to-side thereof and cross bracing the structure for resisting twisting and straining of the structure during towing thereof, and said guy means being readily removable for facilitating occupancy of structure, said guy means comprising a first system of cables in crossed relation and disposed in a substantially horizontal plane closely adjacent to the bottom of the structure and each cable extending from a point adjacent to the said front wall rearwardly obliquely across the width of the structure to a point intermediate the ends thereof and forwardly of said running gear and a second system of cables in crossed relation and disposed in a substantially vertical plane.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said structure includes a transversely extending rigid bar substantially in the plane of the cables of said first system and the ends of said rigid bar being adjacent the rear ends of said cables of said first system.

3. A mobile building structure embodying side walls, a front end wall, a rear end and a roof, means supporting the structure for towing comprising running gear removably connected to the structure adjacent to the rear end thereof, hitch means connected to the front end of the structure for attachment to a draft vehicle, guy means within the structure extending from side-to-side thereof and cross bracing the structure for resisting twisting and straining of the structure during towing thereof, and said guy means being readily removable for facilitating occu pancy of structure, said structure including horizontal, longitudinal side sill beams, and a horizontal, transverse front end sill beam between and connected at its ends to and forming front corner angles with the side beams, a gusset plate in each corner angle secured to said beams, bracket plates spaced apart transversely of the structure and each secured to one of said side beams, and said guy means embodying a pair of cables each carrying a means at one end attached to a gusset plate and means at its other end attached to a bracket plate at the opposite side of the structure.

4. The invention according to claim 3, wherein the said means attached to a bracket plate is a hook removably engaged in an aperture in the bracket plate and the said means attached to the gusset plate is a draw-bolt for drawing the cable taut.

5. The invention according to claim 3, wherein said guy means further includes a rigid bar disposed transversely of the structure between said bracket plates and means securing each end of said bar to a bracket plate.

6. A mobile building structure embodying side walls, a front end wall, a rear end and a roof, means supporting the structure for towing comprising running gear removably connected to the structure adjacent to the rear end thereof, hitch means connected to the front end of the structure for attachment to a draft vehicle, guy means within the structure extending from side-to-side thereof and cross bracing the structure for resisting twisting and straining of the structure during towing thereof, and said guy means being readily removable for facilitating occupancy of structure, said structure including horizontal, longitudinal side sill beams and a horizontal, transverse front end sill beam, wall studding supported upon said longitudinal side sill beams, rafter plates supported on said studding and extending longitudinally of the structure above the side sill beams, said front end sill beam joining at its ends with said side sill beams and forming front corner angles therewith, a gusset plate secured to the side and front beams in each of said angles, bracket plates spaced apart transversely of the structure and each secured to one of said side beams, an upper bracket plate secured to each of said rafter plates above a side beam bracket plate, and said guy means embodying a pair of cables each carrying a means at one end attached to a gusset plate and means at its other end attached to a side beam bracket plate at the opposite side of the structure, a second pair of cables each attached at one end to a side beam bracket plate and attached at its other end to an upper bracket plate at the opposite side of the structure.

7. The invention according to claim 6, with a rigid bar extending across the interior of the structure and having each end in engagement with a side beam bracket plate,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,241,720 10/1917 Dornier 52-65 3,108,820 10/1963 Rich 296-23 X 10 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

P. GOODMAN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A MOBILE BUILDING STRUCTURE EMBODYING SIDE WALLS, A FRONT END WALL, A REAR END AND A ROOF, MEANS SUPPORTING THE STRUCTURE FOR TOWING COMPRISING RUNNING GEAR REMOVABLY CONNECTED TO THE STRUCTURE ADJACENT TO THE REAR END THEREOF, HITCH MEANS CONNECTED TO THE FRONT END OF THE STRUCTURE FOR ATTACHMENT OF A DRAFT VEHICLE, GUY MEANS WITHIN THE STRUCTURE EXTENDING FROM SIDE-TO-SIDE THEREOF AND CROSS BRACING THE STRUCTURE FOR RESISTING TWISTING AND STRAINING OF THE STRUCTURE DURING TOWING THEREOF, AND SAID GUY MEANS BEING READILY REMOVABLE FOR FACILITATING OCCUPANCY OF STRUCTURE, SAID GUY MEANS COMPRISING A FIRST SYSTEM OF CABLES IN CROSSED RELATION AND DISPOSED IN A SUBSANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE CLOSED ADJACENT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE STRUCTURE AND EACH CABLE EXTENDING FROM A POINT ADJACENT TO THE SAID FRONT WALL REARWARDLY OBLIQUELY ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE STRUCTURE TO A POINT INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF AND FORWARDLY OF SAID RUNNING GEAR AND A SECOND SYSTEM OF CABLES IN CROSSED RELATION AND DISPOSED IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL PLANE.