BUILDING STRUCTURE MADE OF PREFABRICATED ELEMENTS ADAPTED FOR AN EASY ASSEMBLING

Abstract: The present invention relates to a building structure (1) made starting from prefabricated elements adapted to be easily assembled, which comprises a floor (2) defining a supporting frame for supporting a plurality of prefabricated panels (3), adapted to be arrang­ ed with a vertical adjoining relationship so as to define the building wall, a covering (4) supported by the top portions of the prefabricated panels, coupling means (13) being provided for removably coupling the panels to one another and to the floor and covering which coupling means (13) comprise a hook member (14) which projects from one side of the panels and may be engaged with a lug member (15) provided on the adjoining panel, on one of the panel being moreover provided a rotatable cam member (16) to be engaged with the hook member (14) for moving away from the lug and locking thereon.

Description: The present invention relates to a building structure made staring from prefabricated elements adapted to be easily assembled,which has been specifically designed for making temporary houses,stores,garages,school buildings,bars,erecting yard "boxes" ,beach or bathing huts and civil and industrial constructions in general. There are presently known buildings made of prefabricated elements which comprise panels adapted to be arranged in an adjoining vertical relationship so as to define the building walls. More specifically these known panels are vertically arranged on a floor structure,also of the prefabricated type,and,on the top portions of the panels a prefabricated covering structure is mounted. The known prefabricated element buildings,though they may be assembled in comparatively reduced times,in respect of the conventional type of buildings,require however a comparatively great time and labour amount. Infact the known prefabricated panels are generally assembled to one another by using screws, bolts or other like coupling means which require a comparatively long assembling time and a very high accuracy by the operator in order to obtain satisfactory results, mainly with respect to the thermal insulation properties. A prefabricated element building structure having substantially the features of the preamble of the main claim is disclosed in the document US-A-2 647 287. Thus, the task of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a novel prefabricated building structure, which has been specifically designed to reduce to a minimum its assembling time and labour, while assuring a satisfactory thermal insulation from the outside environment. Within the above task, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a prefabricated element building which is adapted to meet the related safety standards. Another object of the present invention is to provide a prefabricated element building structure which can also be disassembled in a very reduced time, in respect of the known building structures. According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned task and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent thereinafter, are achieved by a prefabricated element building structure, according to the characterizing part of the main claim. Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent thereinafter from the following description of a preferred, though not exclusive embodiment, of a prefabricated element building structure according to the invention, which has been illustrated, by way of an indicative example, in the accompanying drawings, where: fig.1 is a schematic perspective view of the building structure according to the present invention; fig.2 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the coupling of a prefabricated panel to a prefabricated covering and prefabricated floor to make the building structure according to the present invention; fig.3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the procedure for coupling the covering to a prefabricated panel; fig.4 is a further cross-sectional view illustrating another possible method for coupling the prefabricated panels,covering and floor to make a building structure according to the invention; fig.5 is a schematic view illustrating the removable coupling means for coupling two adjoining panels according to the invention; and fig.6 illustrates another type of coupling of the panels and covering. With reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings,the novel building structure according to the invention,which has been indicated overally at the reference number 1,substantially comprises a floor 2 which defines a substantially horizontal supporting surface,a plurality of prefabricated panels 3 provided for being arranged in a vertical adjoining relationship so as to define the walls of the building structure and a covering 4,which is supported by the top portions of the panels. The prefabricated panels may be made of wood,or two metal sheets arranged with a facing spaced relationship so as to define,therebetween,a gap to be filled by a thermally insulating material such as foamed polyurethane or the like materials.These panels,in particular,are subjected to a painting operation on their two sides and provided with a reinforcing frame,at least at their top portions to be engaged with the covering 4. This reinforcing frame may consist,as shown in figure 2,by a metal section member 5a,of substantially C-shape,provided for forced association with the top portion of a panel. More specifically,said metal section member may be provided with a portion partially extending inside of the panel 3 and having suitable threaded seats or holes 6 for coupling the covering 4 to the top portions or ends of the panels,by means of bolts 7 or self-threading screws. As shown in figure 4,the reinforcement frame may consist of a metal section member 5b,also of C-shape,which is provided,on its side supported by the top portions of the panels 3,with a plurality of bores or holes which may be engaged with self-threading screws 8 for coupling the covering 4 and panels 3. According to a further embodiment of the present invention,which has been schematically shown in figure 6,the reinforcement frame may consist of a metal section member 5c,also of C-shaped cross-section,which is affixed by riveting to the panel 3 and which is engaged with the covering 4 by means of a plurality of self-threading screws 9. Advantageously,in order to provide a proper stability of the covering 4-panel 3 coupling,there are provided bracket members 10 which are associated,by riveting or self-threading screws,with the covering 4 and panel 3 bodies. Further advantageously,each panel 3 is provided,at its lower or bottom portion,with a metal plate 11 which is at least partially embedded in the body of the panel and which is provided with a portion to be supported by the floor and rigidly associated therewith,by means of a plurality of self-threading screws 12,or rivets,bolts and the like. According to the present invention,in order to engage two adjoining panels,there are provided removable coupling means,indicated overally at the reference number 13 which,in the embodiment being disclosed,substantially consist of a hook 14 which laterally projects from a panel and may be engaged with a lug member 15 provided at one side end of the adjoinig panel. Advantageously,on the hook 14 a cam member 16 operates which may be rotated,upon assembling,to move away the hook 14 from the lug member 15,so as to clamp the two panels and lock the hook 14,in the closure position,on the lug 15. At the perimeter of the covering 4 there is provided a band 17,made for example of a sheet metal,which is associated with the covering by means of bracket 18. Under the band 17 a gutter 21 is arranged which,for example,is made of vinyl chloride or the like material and is affixed to suitable attaching regions formed on the outer side of the panel 3 reinforcement frame. Advantageously,in order to provide proper sealing properties,at the junction zone of two panels there is arranged a sealing material band,made for example of a foamed material,which is compressed as the panels are assembled. In particular,the floor 1 may also be of the prefabricated type,or consist of a steel tube structure supporting a plurality of horizontally arranged panels,some of which may be already provided with the related doors 19 and windows 20. The building structure according to the present invention may be assembled by the following method. After having arranged horizontally the floor 2,the panels 3 are mounted on said floor and are coupled to one another by coupling the hook 14 and lug 15,by rotating the cam member 16. Then the panels 3 are rigidly engaged with the floor 2 and the covering 4 is arranged thereon,said covering being successively affixed to the panels 3:finally there are mounted finishing elements,such as the gutter 21. From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended task and objects. More specifically,it should be apparent that the provision of the removable coupling means affords the possibility of assembling,in a quick and simple way,the prefabricated panels to make the walls of building structures,which structures are quickly and easily completed by applying the covering,through the use of self-threading screws or the like means. Moreover the building structures may also be disassembled in a correspondingly quick and easy way. Another advantage of the present invention is that it affords the possibility of quickly and easily making building structures having a good aesthetic finishing. In practicing the invention,the used materials,provided that they are compatible to the inteded use,as well the specific size and shapes may be any according to requirements.

Claims: A prefabricated element building structure, adapted for being assembled in a quick and easy way, comprising a floor defining a supporting surface for a plurality of prefabricated panels, to be arranged in a vertical adjoining relationship so as to define the walls of the building structure, a covering to be supported on the top portions of said panels, and hook means (14) for removably coupling two adjoing of said panels to be said floor and covering, said hook means comprising a hook member including a curved end portion and projecting from one side of one of said panels and provided for engagement with a lug member (15) formed on the adjoining panel, characterized in that said hook member comprises an end slot in which a stud member rigid with said one panel is slidingly engaged, said slot having a longitudinal axis forming a given acute angle with a horizontal line, in that said lug member is rigid with the other of said panels and in that on said one of said panels there being provided a cam spring member (16) adapted for engaging the outer surface of said hook member (14) and moving it away from said lug member (15) and locking it thereon. A prefabricated element building structure, according to claim 1, characterized in that each said panel is provided, at least at the top thereof, with an outer reinforcing substantially U or C-shaped frame (5a, 5b), which is rigidly associated with at least one edge of the panel so as to protect said edge from impacts and adapted for association, by means of self-threading screws (7), with said covering. A prefabricated element building structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said panels are provided, at their bottom portions, with plate members embedded in said panel bodies and adapted for being rigidly associated with said floor. A prefabricated element building structure, according to claim 2, characterized in that said reinforcement frame is provided, on its outer side, with attachement regions to be engaged with a gutter arranged at the bottom of said covering. A prefabricated element structure, according to claim 4, characterized in that said covering is provided with a perimetrical band which is arranged at said gutter.

Inventors: REGGIANI, BARBANZIO
Applicants: MODULCASA S.R.L.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: E04B1
IPC codes: E04B1