Office Action 1: Non-Final Rejection (2024-04-11)
Rejection types: 102 - Lack of Novelty, 103 - Obviousness, Double Patenting

CLAIMS:
CLAIMS
1\. A prefabricated construction volumetric module comprising: a frame structure divided into a truss zone and a habitation zone below the truss zone, the frame structure including a roof and support columns; and a lateral joint on a first support column enabling the first support column to fold, the lateral joint defining a boundary between the truss zone and the habitation zone, wherein folding the first support column at the lateral joint causes a lower region of the first support column to align parallel with the roof and reduce a standing height of the prefabricated construction volumetric module for transport.
2\. The prefabricated construction volumetric module of claim 1, wherein the prefabricated construction volumetric module further comprises: a diagonal truss within the truss zone; and an adjacent module receiver configured to receive a flange from an adjacent prefabricated module, the adjacent module receiver configured to structurally bolt the flange to the diagonal truss.
3\. The prefabricated construction volumetric module of claim 1, wherein the first support column further comprises: a telescoping length that bolts into place at a vertical support length and a truss length.
4\. The prefabricated construction volumetric module of claim 1, further comprising a structural ceiling truss that is either of: a horizontal truss; or a diagonal truss.
5\. The prefabricated construction volumetric module of claim 2, wherein the prefabricated construction volumetric module is bolted to the adjacent prefabricated modules and wherein a corresponding structural ceiling truss from each of the prefabricated construction volumetric modules bolted together form a bowstring truss.
6\. The prefabricated construction volumetric module of claim 1, wherein when in a building configuration, two support columns on a single edge of the prefabricated construction volumetric module are in a vertical configuration and an opposing edge is attached to an adjacent module without any supporting vertical columns.
7\. A prefabricated construction volumetric module comprising: a frame structure divided into a truss zone and a habitation zone below the truss zone, the frame structure including a roof and support columns; a lateral joint on a first support column enabling the first support column to fold, the lateral joint defining a boundary between the truss zone and the habitation zone, wherein folding the first support column at the lateral joint modifies a lower region of the first support column from the habitation zone into a first horizontal ceiling truss positioned at the boundary of the truss zone; and a column receiver that affixes to the first horizontal ceiling truss, the column receiver associated with the first horizontal ceiling truss positioned on an adjacent support column and at the boundary of the truss zone, the column receiver configured to affix the first support column when folded as a horizontal structural ceiling truss.
8\. The prefabricated construction volumetric module of claim 7, further comprising an attachment flange that is configured to structurally bolt to adjacent modules, the attachment flange extending outward to an exterior of the prefabricated construction volumetric module at the lateral joint and enabling a structural continuation of the horizontal structural ceiling truss to a neighboring ceiling truss of the adjacent module.
9\. The prefabricated construction volumetric module of claim 7, wherein the prefabricated construction volumetric module further comprises: a winch mount positioned on the frame structure that positions a winch that assists folding of the first support column.
10\. The prefabricated construction volumetric module of claim 7, wherein the first support column further comprises: an extension foot that bolts into an end of the first support column and adjusts a standing height of the prefabricated construction volumetric module while the first support column is in a vertical configuration.
11\. The prefabricated construction volumetric module of claim 7, wherein the first horizontal ceiling truss is further configured to bolt to an adjacent horizontal ceiling truss of a second support column.
12\. The prefabricated construction volumetric module of claim 7, wherein the prefabricated construction volumetric module further comprises: a set of permanent diagonal trusses in the truss zone.
13\. The prefabricated construction volumetric module of claim 7, wherein the prefabricated construction volumetric module is bolted to adjacent prefabricated construction volumetric modules and wherein a corresponding structural ceiling truss from each of the prefabricated construction volumetric modules bolted together form a bowstring truss.
14\. The prefabricated construction volumetric module of claim 7, wherein when in a building configuration, all four support columns are positioned as the horizontal structural ceiling trusses and the roof is held aloft by bolts to adjacent prefabricated construction volumetric modules.
15\. A system of prefabricated construction volumetric modules each including a frame structure divided into a truss zone and a habitation zone below the truss zone, the frame structure including a roof and support columns, the system comprising: a first volumetric module including a first pair of support columns on a single side, a diagonal structural ceiling truss in the truss zone, and a set of receiving elements associated with structural bolts to adjacent modules on a side opposite the first pair of support columns; and a second volumetric module including a folding support column that folds via a lateral joint at a corresponding boundary between the truss zone and the habitation zone, wherein folding the folding support column at the lateral joint causes a lower region of the folding support column convert into a horizontal structural ceiling truss; wherein the first volumetric module and the second volumetric module are bolted together in a building configuration wherein the diagonal structural ceiling truss and the horizontal structural ceiling truss together form a portion of a bowstring truss.
16\. The system of prefabricated construction volumetric modules of claim 15, wherein the prefabricated construction volumetric modules further comprise: a winch mount positioned on the frame structure that positions a winch that assists folding of the support columns.
17\. The system of prefabricated construction volumetric modules of claim 15, wherein the folding support column further comprise: an extension foot that removably affixes to the folding support column of the second volumetric module and adjusts a standing height of the second volumetric module while the support column is in a vertical configuration.
18\. The system of prefabricated construction volumetric modules of claim 15, wherein when in the building configuration a floorspace in the habitation zone between the first volumetric module and the second volumetric module does not include any vertical columns.
19\. The system of prefabricated construction volumetric modules of claim 15, further comprising: a third volumetric module including a second pair of support columns on a same side, a second diagonal structural ceiling truss in the truss zone, and an additional set of receiving elements associated with structural bolts to adjacent modules on a side opposite the second pair of support columns; wherein the third volumetric module is further bolted together with the first and second volumetric modules in the building configuration wherein the second diagonal structural ceiling truss completes the bowstring truss.
20\. The system of prefabricated construction volumetric module of claim 15, wherein the second volumetric module further comprises: a set of permanent diagonal trusses in the truss zone.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1, 4, 7, 11, and 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent No. 4,242,845 to Osborne, Sr. (“Osborne”).
Regarding claim 1, Osborne discloses a prefabricated construction volumetric module comprising: a frame structure divided into a truss zone (zone including Esub1) and a habitation zone (zone below Esub1) below the truss zone, the frame structure including a roof (D1) and support columns (studs in D2 and D3); and a lateral joint (10) on a first support column (D2) enabling the first support column to fold, the lateral joint defining a boundary between the truss zone and the habitation zone, wherein folding the first support column at the lateral joint causes a lower region of the first support column to align parallel with the roof and reduce a standing height of the prefabricated construction volumetric module for transport.	Regarding claim 4, Osborne discloses a structural ceiling truss that is a horizontal truss.
Regarding claim 7, Osborne discloses a prefabricated construction volumetric module comprising: a frame structure divided into a truss zone (zone including Esub1) and a habitation zone (zone below Esub1) below the truss zone, the frame structure including a roof (D1) and support columns (studs in D2 and D3); a lateral joint (10) on a first support column (D2) enabling the first support column to fold, the lateral joint defining a boundary between the truss zone and the habitation zone, wherein folding the first support column at the lateral joint modifies a lower region of the first support column from the habitation zone into a first horizontal ceiling truss positioned at the boundary of the truss zone; and a column receiver (10) that affixes to the first horizontal ceiling truss (affixed at pin 42), the column receiver associated with the first horizontal ceiling truss positioned on an adjacent support column and at the boundary of the truss zone, the column receiver configured to affix the first support column when folded as a horizontal structural ceiling truss.
Regarding claim 11, Osborne discloses that the first horizontal ceiling truss is further configured to bolt to an adjacent horizontal ceiling truss of a second support column.
Regarding claim 12, Osborne discloses that the prefabricated construction volumetric module further comprises: a set of permanent diagonal trusses (see Fig. 1A) in the truss zone.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Osborne in view of U.S. Patent No. 2014/0123572 to Segall (“Segall”).
Regarding claim 10, Osborne does not disclose that the first support column further comprises: an extension foot that bolts into an end of the first support column and adjusts a standing height of the prefabricated construction volumetric module while the first support column is in a vertical configuration.
Segall discloses a prefabricated module wherein a first support column (112) further comprises: an extension foot (126) that bolts into an end of the first support column (via 128) and adjusts a standing height of the prefabricated construction volumetric module while the first support column is in a vertical configuration (Segall, par [0060]).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the prefabricated module of Osborne to have an extension foot that bolts into an end of the first support column and adjusts a standing height of the prefabricated construction volumetric module taught in Segall with a reasonable expectation of success because it would allow for vertical adjustment to take into account an uneven support surface (Segall, par [0060]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, and 14  objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Claims 15-20 are allowable.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: None of the prior art, alone or in obvious combination absent hindsight, discloses applicant’s invention of a prefabricated module comprising the structure recited in claims 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 13-20. Unlike applicant’s invention, the closest prior art to Osborne discloses prefabricated modules that are aligned longitudinally along exterior walls without any intervening columns from prefabricated structures abutted with columns that are directly laterally adjacent. Osborne relies on identical modules longitudinally aligned in order to create a space. This is in contrast to applicant’s invention that utilizes a centrally located prefabricated modules whose columns are pivoted to form a truss structure when aligned with adjacent prefabricated end modules.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA  as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-18 of U.S. Patent No. 11,802,402. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because each limitation in the pending claims are recited in and thus within the scope of the patented claims.
Conclusion


NEXT OFFICE ACTION: DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1 and 4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Publication No. 2017/0370091 to Dragan (“Dragan”).
Regarding claim 1, Dragan discloses a prefabricated construction volumetric module comprising: a frame structure 10 divided into a truss zone (zone above point 18) and a habitation zone (zone below point 18) below the truss zone, the frame structure including a roof 16 and two support columns (12, to the left and right sides of the right-most forklift 20; see Fig. 6) on a single edge (long edge of 16), the frame structure further including a truss system (short trusses which run parallel to a short edge of 16 and are perpendicular to truss 14; see Fig. 7) within the truss zone; wherein the truss system (short trusses) runs perpendicular to the single edge (long edge of 16) and a structural load is distributed across the truss system of aligned adjacent modules; and a lateral joint 18 on a first support column enabling the first support column 12 to fold, the lateral joint 18 defining a boundary between the truss zone and the habitation zone, wherein folding the first support column 12 in a direction parallel to the single edge (long edge of 16) at the lateral joint causes a lower region of the first support column to align parallel with the roof and reduce a standing height of the prefabricated construction volumetric module for transport (see Fig. 10).	Regarding claim 4, Dragan discloses a structural ceiling truss 14 that is a horizontal truss.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2, 3, 5, 6 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Claims 7-20 are allowable.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: None of the prior art, alone or in obvious combination absent hindsight, discloses applicant’s invention of a prefabricated module comprising the structure recited in claims 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 13-20. Unlike applicant’s invention, the closest prior art to Osborne (US4,242,845) discloses prefabricated modules that are aligned longitudinally along exterior walls without any intervening columns from prefabricated structures abutted with columns that are directly laterally adjacent. Osborne relies on identical modules longitudinally aligned in order to create a space. This is in contrast to applicant’s invention that utilizes a centrally located prefabricated modules whose columns are pivoted to form a truss structure when aligned with adjacent prefabricated end modules. With respect to claim 7, Osborne does not disclose that folding the first support column at the lateral joint modifies the first support column into a first horizonal ceiling truss.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA  as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 7-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-18 of U.S. Patent No. 11,802,402. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because each limitation in the pending claims are recited in and thus within the scope of the patented claims.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1 and 4 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action.  Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL.  See MPEP § 706.07(a).  Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action.  In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action.  In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.

CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US3336717A: Claims:
IN COMBINATION: DECK MEANS HAVING INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES; AN ELONGATED TRUSS CHORD MEMBER; A PAIR OF ELONGATED TRUSS WEB MEMBERS; MEANS ATTACHING ONE END OF EACH WEB MEMBER TO SAID CHORD MEMBER AT RESPECTIVE LONGITUDINALLY SPACED LOCATIONS ON THE LATTER; SAID WEB MEMBERS CONVERGING TOWARD EACH OTHER FROM SAID CHORD MEMBER; SAID DECK MEANS BEING ELONGATED IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS SAID CHORD MEMBER AND HAVING SUFFICIENT FLEXIBILITY TO FLEX BETWEEN DIFFERENT CONDITIONS OF LONGITUDINAL DECK CHAMBER; AND MEANS, AT THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID WEB MEMBERS, TRYING SAID OTHER ENDS TOGETHER AND CONNECTING SAID WEB MEMBERS TO THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID DECK MEANS; SAID CONNECTING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS MOUNTING SAID WEB MEMBERS AND SAID CHORD MEMBER FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT, RELATIVE TO SAID DECK MEANS, ABOUT A PIVOTAL AXIS EXTENDING IN THE LENGTHWISE DIRECTION OF SAID CHORD MEMBER; SAID CONNECTING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS MOUNTING SAID OTHER ENDS OF THE WEB MEMBERS FOR BACK AND FORTH MOVEMENT ALONG A PATH EXTENDING PARALLEL TO SAID PIVOTAL AXIS TO ACCOMMODATE SAID DIFFERENT CONDITIONS OF LONGITUDINAL DECK CAMBER.
Ref US3968618A: Claims:
The method of constructing a clearspan building having an elongated Tee beam roof of given depth comprising the steps of: a. positioning said Tee beam and a further elongated structural member with major surfaces thereof in parallel planes and the axes of elongation thereof in alignment; b. establishing a connection between said Tee beam and said further elongated structural member, which connection is pivoted about an axis normal to said axes of elongation thereof; c. lifting said Tee beam by exerting a lifting force at a limited central portion only of said Tee beam to allow said further elongated structural member to rotate about said pivotal connection; d. lowering the free end of said further elongated structural member into contact with a foundation; and e. anchoring said Tee beam and said further elongated structural member to each other by means capable of withstanding both tensile and compressive stress at a point spaced from said pivotal connection by a distance at least about equal to one-half said given depth of said Tee beam and anchoring the free ends of said Tee beam and said further elongated structural member to said foundation whereby the release of said lifting force introduces bending moments into said Tee beam and said wall through said pivotal connection and anchoring means therebetween.
a. positioning said Tee beam and a further elongated structural member with major surfaces thereof in parallel planes and the axes of elongation thereof in alignment;
b. establishing a connection between said Tee beam and said further elongated structural member, which connection is pivoted about an axis normal to said axes of elongation thereof;
c. lifting said Tee beam by exerting a lifting force at a limited central portion only of said Tee beam to allow said further elongated structural member to rotate about said pivotal connection;
d. lowering the free end of said further elongated structural member into contact with a foundation; and
e. anchoring said Tee beam and said further elongated structural member to each other by means capable of withstanding both tensile and compressive stress at a point spaced from said pivotal connection by a distance at least about equal to one-half said given depth of said Tee beam and anchoring the free ends of said Tee beam and said further elongated structural member to said foundation whereby the release of said lifting force introduces bending moments into said Tee beam and said wall through said pivotal connection and anchoring means therebetween.
The method of constructing a clearspan building having an elongated Tee beam roof of given depth and a pair of walls, each at a different end of said Tee beam, comprising the steps of: a. positioning said Tee beam and said walls with the major surfaces of said walls lying in a common plane parallel to the plane of the major surface of said Tee beam and with at least a portion of one major surface of each of said walls in contiguous contact with a portion of said Tee beam; b. establishing connections which are pivotal about parallel axes normal to the axis of elongation of said Tee beam between said Tee beam and each of said walls, each said connection being adjacent a different end of said beam and at the end of said portion of the associated one of said walls which is in contiguous contact with said Tee beam at said end thereof; c. lifting said Tee beam by exerting a lifting force at a limited central portion only of said Tee beam to allow said walls to pivot downwardly about said pivotal connections to positions in which the major surfaces of said walls extend in planes generally normal to said axis of elongation of said Tee beam; d. lowering the free ends of said walls into contact with a foundation; e. anchoring each of said walls to said Tee beam by means capable of withstanding both tensile and compressive stress at a point spaced from said pivotal connection by a distance at least about equal to one-half said given depth of said Tee beam and anchoring the free ends of said walls to said foundation whereby the release of said lifting force introduces bending moments into said Tee beam and said walls through said pivotal connection and anchoring means therebetween.
a. positioning said Tee beam and said walls with the major surfaces of said walls lying in a common plane parallel to the plane of the major surface of said Tee beam and with at least a portion of one major surface of each of said walls in contiguous contact with a portion of said Tee beam;
b. establishing connections which are pivotal about parallel axes normal to the axis of elongation of said Tee beam between said Tee beam and each of said walls, each said connection being adjacent a different end of said beam and at the end of said portion of the associated one of said walls which is in contiguous contact with said Tee beam at said end thereof;
c. lifting said Tee beam by exerting a lifting force at a limited central portion only of said Tee beam to allow said walls to pivot downwardly about said pivotal connections to positions in which the major surfaces of said walls extend in planes generally normal to said axis of elongation of said Tee beam;
d. lowering the free ends of said walls into contact with a foundation;
e. anchoring each of said walls to said Tee beam by means capable of withstanding both tensile and compressive stress at a point spaced from said pivotal connection by a distance at least about equal to one-half said given depth of said Tee beam and anchoring the free ends of said walls to said foundation whereby the release of said lifting force introduces bending moments into said Tee beam and said walls through said pivotal connection and anchoring means therebetween.
The method of constructing a clearspan building as claimed in claim 2 wherein said step of positioning said Tee beam and said walls comprises the steps of placing said walls on a horizontal surface in end-to-end relation and placing said Tee beam on top of said walls with a portion of each wall projecting beyond the respective end of said Tee beam by a distance at least about equal to said given depth of said Tee beam.
The method of constructing a clearspan building as claimed in claim 2 wherein said step of positioning said Tee beam and said walls comprises the steps of forming walls with a thickness at least about equal to said given depth of said Tee beam, placing said walls on a horizontal surface in end-to-end relation and placing said Tee beam on top of said walls with each end of said Tee beam projecting beyond the wall associated therewith by a distance at least about equal to said given depth of said Tee beam.
Ref US4242845A: [content unavailable]
Ref US5461832A: Claims:
A transportable, foldable building for being mounted on a supporting foundation, said building comprising: (a) a central roof section comprising a central roof beam for being supported in vertically spaced relation above the foundation; (b) first and second outer roof sections comprising first and second outer roof beams pivotally attached to respective ends of the central roof beam, said first and second outer roof beams extending downwardly from said central roof beam during transport of said building and prior to erecting said building onto the supporting foundation to reduce the width of the building during transport; (c) a first side wall comprising a first side beam pivotally attached to an end of the first outer roof beam and folded inwardly in overlying relation to the first outer roof beam during transport of said building and prior to erecting and mounting said building onto the supporting foundation; and (d) a second side wall comprising a second side beam pivotally attached to an end of the second outer roof beam and folded inwardly in overlying relation to the second outer roof beam during transport of said building and prior to erecting and mounting said building onto the supporting foundation; whereby said building is erected onto the supporting foundation by vertically lifting and securing the first and second outer roof sections in alignment with the central roof section, and by unfolding said first and second side walls downwardly from respective first and second outer roof sections to the supporting foundation, said building being supportable entirely by said first and second side walls.
(a) a central roof section comprising a central roof beam for being supported in vertically spaced relation above the foundation;
(b) first and second outer roof sections comprising first and second outer roof beams pivotally attached to respective ends of the central roof beam, said first and second outer roof beams extending downwardly from said central roof beam during transport of said building and prior to erecting said building onto the supporting foundation to reduce the width of the building during transport;
(c) a first side wall comprising a first side beam pivotally attached to an end of the first outer roof beam and folded inwardly in overlying relation to the first outer roof beam during transport of said building and prior to erecting and mounting said building onto the supporting foundation; and
(d) a second side wall comprising a second side beam pivotally attached to an end of the second outer roof beam and folded inwardly in overlying relation to the second outer roof beam during transport of said building and prior to erecting and mounting said building onto the supporting foundation;
whereby said building is erected onto the supporting foundation by vertically lifting and securing the first and second outer roof sections in alignment with the central roof section, and by unfolding said first and second side walls downwardly from respective first and second outer roof sections to the supporting foundation, said building being supportable entirely by said first and second side walls.
A building according to claim 1, wherein the central roof section includes first and second, opposing central roof beams laterally spaced-apart and located respectively at front and back ends of the roof of said building.
A building according to claim 2, wherein the first and second outer roof sections include respective pairs of opposing outer roof beams pivotally attached to the first and second central roof beams of the central roof section, said pairs of outer roof beams extending downwardly from said first and second central roof beams during transport of said building and prior to erecting said building onto the supporting foundation.
A building according to claim 3, and including respective hinge assemblies for pivotally attaching the pairs of outer roof beams of the first and second outer roof sections to the central roof beams of the central roof section.
A building according to claim 4, wherein each of said hinge assemblies includes coupling means for securing the outer roof beams of the first and second outer roof sections and the central roof beams of the central roof section to each other in an immovable condition to thereby define a rigid, fixed roof frame.
A building according to claim 5, wherein said coupling means comprises complementary pairs of threaded bolts and nuts.
A building according to claim 6, and including a plurality of horizontal joists interposed between the central roof beams of the central roof section and the pairs of outer roof beams of the first and second outer roof sections for supporting insulation and exterior siding.
A building according to claim 3, wherein the first and second side walls include respective pairs of opposing side beams pivotally attached to the pairs of outer roof beams of the first and second outer roof sections, the pairs of side beams being folded inwardly in overlying relation to the pairs of outer roof beams during transport of said building and prior to erecting and mounting said building on the supporting foundation.
A building according to claim 8, and including respective hinge assemblies for pivotally attaching the pairs of side beams of the first and second side walls to the pairs of outer roof beams of the first and second outer roof sections.
A building according to claim 9, wherein each of said hinge assemblies includes coupling means for securing the side beams of the first and second side walls and the outer roof beams of the first and second outer roof sections to each other in an immovable condition to thereby define opposing side wall frames for providing vertical support when said building is erected onto the foundation.
A building according to claim 10, wherein said coupling means comprises complementary pairs of threaded bolts and nuts.
A building according to claim 11, and including a plurality of horizontal joists interposed between respective pairs of side beams of the first and second side walls for supporting insulation and exterior siding.
A building according to claim 1, and including front and back walls for being attached to said building after said building is erected onto the supporting foundation.
A building according to claim 13, wherein the front and back walls each include a connecting extension for mating with a complementary sleeve formed on respective front and back ends of the sections to connect the front wall to a front end of the building and the back wall to a back end of the building.
In combination with a foldable building according to claim 1, a building transport and erection assembly comprising: (a) a trailer for transporting said building in a folded condition from a building prefabrication site to a building erection site; and (b) a carriage mounted on said trailer for carrying and supporting said building prior to and during erection of said building onto the foundation.
(a) a trailer for transporting said building in a folded condition from a building prefabrication site to a building erection site; and
(b) a carriage mounted on said trailer for carrying and supporting said building prior to and during erection of said building onto the foundation.
A building transport and erection assembly according to claim 15, and further comprising at least one adjustable jack mounted on said trailer and interposed between said carriage and said trailer for vertically adjusting the height of said carriage to lift or lower said building prior to erecting said building onto the foundation.
A building transport and erection assembly according to claim 15, and further comprising a liftings arm for being removably attached to said trailer to lift the outer roof sections and side walls of said building into their respective erected positions during erection of said building onto the foundation.
A building transport and erection assembly according to claim 17, wherein said lifting arm includes a hoist cable for being attached at one end to an edge of one of the first and second outer roof sections, and winch for retracting said cable to pivot the one of said first and second outer roof sections upwardly into an erected position.
A transportable, foldable building to be mounted on a supporting foundation, said building comprising: (a) a central roof section comprising a central roof beam for being supported in vertically spaced relation above the foundation; (b) first and second outer roof sections comprising first and second outer roof beams pivotally attached to respective ends of the central roof beam, said first and second outer roof beams extending downwardly from said central roof beam during transport of said building and prior to erecting said building onto the supporting foundation to reduce the width of the building during transport; (c) third and fourth outer roof sections comprising third and fourth outer roof beams pivotally attached to respective ends of the first and second outer roof beams, and folded upwardly and inwardly in overlying relation to the first and second outer roof beams during transport of said building and prior to erecting and mounting said building onto the supporting foundation; and (d) first and second side walls comprising first and second side beams pivotally attached to respective ends of the third and fourth outer roof beams, and folded downwardly and outwardly in overlying relation to the third and fourth outer roof beams during transport of said building and prior to erecting and mounting said building onto the supporting foundation, whereby said building is supportable entirely by said first and second side walls.
(c) third and fourth outer roof sections comprising third and fourth outer roof beams pivotally attached to respective ends of the first and second outer roof beams, and folded upwardly and inwardly in overlying relation to the first and second outer roof beams during transport of said building and prior to erecting and mounting said building onto the supporting foundation; and
(d) first and second side walls comprising first and second side beams pivotally attached to respective ends of the third and fourth outer roof beams, and folded downwardly and outwardly in overlying relation to the third and fourth outer roof beams during transport of said building and prior to erecting and mounting said building onto the supporting foundation, whereby said building is supportable entirely by said first and second side walls.
A method of erecting a transportable and foldable building onto a supporting foundation, comprising the steps of: (a) locating a central roof beam of a central roof section in vertically spaced relation above the supporting foundation; (b) pivotally attaching first and second outer roof beams of first and second outer root sections to respective ends of the central roof beam to extend downwardly from the central roof beam during transport of the building and prior to erecting the building onto the supporting foundation to reduce the width of the building during transport; (c) pivotally attaching first and second side beams of first and second side walls to respective ends of the first and second outer roof beams, the first and second side beams being folded upwardly and inwardly in overlying relation to the first and second outer roof beams during transport of said building and prior to erecting and mounting said building onto the supporting foundation; (d) lifting the first and second outer roof beams of the first and second outer roof sections from a lowered position to a raised position into alignment with the central roof beam of the central roof section to define a roof of said building; and pivoting the first and second side beams of the first and second side walls downwardly from a position adjacent the first and second outer roof beams of the first and second outer roof sections to the supporting foundation, whereby said building is supportable entirely by said first and second side walls.
(a)
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