EXOSKELETON-SUPPORTED PORTABLE STORAGE UNIT

An exoskeleton supported portable storage unit is provided. The exoskeleton may be metal sheet panels adapted to reinforce a lightweight non-self-supporting frame/substructure, thereby providing structural integrity to the overall structure while maintaining an overall lightweight, portable storage unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to storage units and, more particularly, an exoskeleton supported portable structure.

As the general population becomes more and more mobile, the importance of portable storage units becomes more and more commonplace and needed. Current storage units, however, take too much time and money to build, and are typically too heavy. The weight can frustrate and decrease their portability. Typical storage buildings are built by using a welded metal frame or braced wooden frame. These types of units have much higher build costs, weigh a lot more, and are more time-consuming to construct than the alternative the inventor has innovated.

As can be seen, there is a need for exoskeleton-supported portable structures that are very easy and inexpensive to build. The present invention results in storage units that are better looking, longer lasting, and stronger than any other units, yet have a light weight due to the exoskeleton.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an exoskeleton-supported portable storage unit includes the following: a substructure separating an inner compartment and an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface is a quadrilateral in cross section; the substructure comprising a plurality of posts, wherein each two adjacent posts of the plurality of posts define an exterior post surface coplanar with a portion of said quadrilateral; and an exoskeleton interconnecting each two adjacent posts along a respective exterior post surface, wherein the substructure has no welds and no self-supporting bracing.

In another aspect of the present invention, the above-mentioned exoskeleton-supported portable storage unit further includes: a plurality of horizontal members interconnecting each two adjacent posts, wherein the plurality of horizontal members is orthogonally oriented relative to each two adjacent posts, wherein the plurality of horizontal members has an exterior member surface coplanar with the respective exterior post surface, and wherein the exoskeleton comprising overlapping structural sheets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an exoskeleton-supported portable storage unit. The exoskeleton may be metal sheet panels adapted to reinforce a lightweight non-self-supporting frame/substructure, thereby providing structural integrity to the overall structure while maintaining an overall lightweight, portable storage unit.

Referring now toFIGS. 1 through 6, the present invention may embody a lightweight portable structure100, and a method of constructing the same. The portable structure100may include portable sheds, portable storage units, “mini-barns”, and the like.

The lightweight portable structure100includes non-self-supporting framing—i.e., the framing for the portable structure100provides no internal bracing or welding—which in turn allows the portable structure100to be lightweight. The non-self-supporting framing is reinforced by an exoskeleton50of structural sheeting26. The resulting lightweight portable structure100thereby maximizes usable storage space while minimizing weight (through the absence of bracing) compared to conventional self-supporting framing, as well as being a lot easier to manufacture due to the absence of reinforcement welding or the like.

The overall arrangement of the non-self-supporting frame/substructure may include corner posts10, center posts12, horizontal rails14, door framing16, floor joists30, and frame sliders36. The non-self-supporting frame may be made from wood or equivalently inexpensive, lightweight, durable materials capable of resisting the loads contemplated herein without failing.

In a cuboidal non-self-supporting frame/substructure, as illustrated in the FIGS. (though it should be understood that other volumetric shapes are contemplated by the present invention), the center posts12may be placed along longitudinal sidewalls between the corner posts12. The horizontal rails14may interconnect the corner posts and adjacent center post. In certain embodiments the horizontal rails14may extend along a compartment-side of the cuboidal non-self-supporting frame/posts10and12, while in other embodiments, the horizontal rails14may extend between the posts10and12so as to be flush with an exterior surface of the posts10and12.

The exoskeleton50may include overlapping structural sheeting26. Overlapping may be understood to be that a distal edge of one structural sheet26may overlap a proximal edge of an adjacent structural sheet26with both those sheets' edges connected together into a portion of the substructure, such as a center post or a corner post. Note, if the structural sheet includes wood members, these wood members may not be overlapping but abutting at and connected to the portion of the substructure (such a center post or a corner post).

The structural sheeting26may be metal sheets although any rigid material, including but not limited to wood and fiberglass, may be used if properly employed. The exoskeleton50, once installed over the non-self-supporting frame/substructure, both squares the non-self-supporting frame/substructure and gives it its strength. The exoskeleton50functions to provide enhanced strength to any buildings or structures to which it is applied and is applicable to a variety of building sizes and styles. The advantages of the present invention over the prior existing technology are that it has a lower build cost, it weighs less, and takes less time to construct while providing enhanced strength. No welding or other costly fabrication is required, and with no need for a self-supporting framing/bracing.

A bottom horizontal rail14may support orthogonally joined floor joists, thereby providing a bottom of the compartment defined by the cuboidal non-self-supporting frame. Along a top side of the bottom horizontal rail14flooring32may be supported, while along a bottom side of the bottom horizontal rail14may be frame sliders36orthogonally disposed and joined thereto. The frame sliders36enable the resulting storage container to be engaged and moved with less concern of damaging the non-self-supporting frame/substructure/exoskeleton50.

Some of the siding/structural sheeting26may provide forklift cutouts34. The door framing16may be dimensioned and adapted to operatively associate with a roll-up door18. The roof of the storage container may include short and long roof supports20and22that support roofing24and gutters28.