Abstract:
A container/building system comprising; at least one elongate structural member at least one connecting member, the connecting member able to be realisably connected to the structural member and at least one plate that is able to realisably engage with at least one structural member.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a container/building system. In particular the invention relates to a modular container that can be assembled and disassembled to serve various needs including those of an expedient building system. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Containers are used throughout the world to transport cargo. In 2011, approximately 90% of non-bulk cargo worldwide was moved by containers stacked on transport ships. Accordingly, containers form an integral part of the global transportation network for cargo. 
         [0003]    Containers are intended to be used constantly. That is once a container is emptied of cargo, the container is reloaded with new cargo destined for a new destination. However, refilling a container once it has reached its destination is not always possible. The cost of transporting an empty container to a place where it is to be used is often considerably higher than the value of the used container. This often leads to unwanted stockpiling of containers at one location with a shortage of containers in another location. 
         [0004]    The reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. 
       OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an objective of the invention to overcome and/or alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages and/or to provide the consumer with a useful and/or commercial choice. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one form, although not necessarily the only or broadest form, the invention resides in a container building system comprising; 
         [0007]    at least one elongate structural member; 
         [0008]    at least one connecting member, the connecting member able to be realisably connected to the structural member; and 
         [0009]    at least one plate that is able to realisably engage with at least one structural member. 
         [0010]    The elongate structural member typically is either a beam or a post. The elongate structural member may be constructed from any suitable material. However, typically the elongate structural member is manufactured from steel, aluminium or composite material. 
         [0011]    The elongate structural member may include a series of engagement members. The engagement members may be used to engage with the at least one plate. 
         [0012]    The engagement members may form a repetitive pattern along at least part of the length of an elongate structural member. Typically, the engagement members extend along the majority of a length of an elongate structural member. Normally the engagement members are located only on a single side of a structural member. However, the engagement members may be located on more than one side of a structural member if desired. 
         [0013]    Preferably the engagement members are in the form of a repeating wave. The wave may be a sine wave, modified square wave, triangular wave or saw tooth wave. 
         [0014]    One or more of the engagement members may include an aperture that extends through the engagement member. 
         [0015]    One or more joining members may be used to connect one or more elongate structural members to each other using one or more apertures that extend through the engagement members. Each joining member may include two or more engagement pins that may be used to connect two structural members together. Typically two or more joining members are used to join two elongate structural members together. 
         [0016]    The elongate structural member may include at least one fastening portion to fasten the elongate structural member to the connecting member. Typically there is a fastening portion located adjacent the end of the elongate structural member. Each fastening portion may include at least one captured nut. Alternatively, the fastening portion may include a threaded hole. 
         [0017]    The elongate structural member may also include a locating portion to align the elongate structural member with the connecting member. Typically there is a locating portion located adjacent the end of the elongate structural member. The locating portion may be in the form of one or more locating pins. Alternatively, the locating portion may be in the form of locating holes. 
         [0018]    The connecting member may, be made from a rectangular prism shaped, hollow body. The connecting member may be able to be connected to at least two elongate structural members. Preferably, the connecting member may be able to be connected to at least two elongate structural members. More preferably, the connecting member may be able to be connected to at least three elongate structural members. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the connecting member may be connected to two elongate structural members to allow the elongate structural members to lie in two different planes. More preferably, the connecting member may be connected to three elongate structural members to allow the elongate structural members to lie in three different planes. 
         [0020]    The connecting member may include at least one fastening portion to fasten an elongate structural member to the connecting member. A fastening portion of the connecting member is normally used in conjunction with the fastening portion of the elongate structural member to connect elongate structural member to the connecting member. Normally the connecting member has three fastening portions. A fastening portion of the connecting member may be in the form of a bolt or the like fastener. 
         [0021]    The connecting member may include at least one access aperture to access the fastening portion of the connecting member. Preferably there are at least three access apertures. More preferably there are three access apertures. 
         [0022]    The connecting member may include at least one locating portion to align an elongate structural member with the connecting member. A locating portion of the connecting member is normally used in conjunction with the locating portion of the elongate structural member to align the elongate structural member with the connecting member. Normally the connecting member has three locating portions. The locating portion may be in the form of locating holes. Alternatively, the locating portion may be in the form of one or more locating pins. 
         [0023]    The plate typically is used as a floor plate. However, it is envisaged that the plate may be used as a roof plate. The plate has at least one socket for location of an elongate structural member. Typically the plate has at least four sockets. More preferably, the plate has four sockets. The sockets are normally located at respective ends of the plates. However, it is envisaged that the sockets may be located on respective sides of the plate. The sockets are normally located adjacent the corners of the plate. 
         [0024]    A series of tie holes may be spaced around the periphery of the plate. A series of ties may be plated within the holes to tie one plate to an adjacent plate. The tie may be located within a top of a one one plate and within a bottom of a tie hole in the adjacent plate. The ties may be substantially Z-shaped. 
         [0025]    Each socket may have a series of engagement members. The engagement members of the socket are typically shaped to engage with the engagement members of an elongate structural member. The engagement members of the socket are shaped in a complimentary fashion to engage with the engagement members of an elongate structural member. Preferably the engagement members of the socket may be in the form of a repeating wave. The wave may be a sine wave, modified square wave, triangular wave or saw tooth wave. 
         [0026]    A locking member may be used to hold a connecting member in engagement within a socket of the plate. The locking member may be located on either the connecting member or on the plate or on both. Preferably, the locking member is located in the plate. Typically there are the same number of locking members as there are sockets in the plate. 
         [0027]    The plate may have at least one alignment member. Typically the alignment members are used to ensure the sockets are in alignment when plates are stacked on top of each other. Normally, there are at least four alignment members on a top face and bottom face of the plate. The alignment member may be in the form of dimple and/or a projection. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    Embodiment of the invention, by way of example only, will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a container/building system according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a further isometric view of a container/building system according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a connecting member according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a side sectional view of a connecting member attached to an elongate structural member; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of a locking member attaching an elongate structural member to plate; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6A  is a side elevational view of a container/building system having a single floor plate; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6B  is a side elevational view of a container/building system that has numerous floor plates stacked together; 
           [0036]      FIG. 6C  is, a side elevational view of a container/building system having a single floor plate located in a different position to that shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a container/building system according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  is a further isometric view of a container/building system according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 9A to 9C  show a detailed view of two elongate support members being joined together according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 10  shows a detailed view of two plates being joined together according to a second embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0041]      FIG. 11A to 11D  show perspectives views of how the container/building system can be used. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0042]      FIG. 1  shows a modular container/building system  10  that is able to be assembled for carrying cargo and disassembled for transportation to other sites with a greatly reduced volume, that can then be assembled and disassembled to serve various needs including those of an expedient building system. 
         [0043]    The container/building system  10  includes a floor plate  20 , a number of elongate structural members  30  and a number of connecting members  40 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 1  shows a modular container/building system with the floor plate at a lower level whist  FIG. 2  shows a modular container/building system that has been assembled with the floor plate installed at an intermediate level. 
         [0045]    The floor plate  20  is sustainably rectangular in shape and is constructed from steel. However it should be appreciated that other suitable materials may be used. The plate has four sockets  21  which are located within ends  22  of the floor plate. The respective sockets  21  are located adjacent corners  23  of the floor plate. Each of the sockets  21  is profiled to form engagement members  24 . The engagement members  24  are formed in one side of the socket  21 . However it should be appreciated that the engagement members  24  may be formed on opposite sides of the sockets. The engagement members  24  are in the form of a sine wave. 
         [0046]    The floor plate also includes a series spaced apart projections (not shown) located on a top face of the floor plate and a series of dimples (not shown) located in a bottom face of the floor plate. The projections and dimples are relatively sized so that the dimples on one plate will receive the projections of another plate. The projections and dimples are used to align stacked plate. 
         [0047]    The elongate structural members  30  are either posts or beams. For example in this embodiment there are four posts and eight beams. The posts and beams can be of variable length. However both the posts and beams are made from the same structural materials and have the same profile. Accordingly posts can be used as beams and vise versa. 
         [0048]    Each elongate structural member  30  has a series of engagement members  31 . The engagement members  31  run along one single side of the elongate structural member  30 . The engagement members  31  are in the form of a sine wave. 
         [0049]    Each elongate structural member  30  is hollow. A captured nut  32  is located within each end of the elongate structure member. Two locating pins  33  are formed at end of the elongate structure member. The captured nut  32  and locating pins  33  are shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0050]    The connecting members  40  are located at the corners of the container/building system  10 . A detailed view of the connecting member  40  is shown in  FIG. 3 . Each connecting member  40  is formed by a hollow steel body  41 . Each connecting member  40  is able to be used to connect three elongate structural members  30 . Accordingly the body  41  has three associated bolts (not shown) and three associated access apertures  44 . Further the body has three bolt holes  43  and three sets of four locating holes  44  (only one shown for the purposes of clarity). The locating holes  44  are located around the bolt holes  43 . However it should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the number and position of the locating holes  44  may be varied according to the design. 
         [0051]    In order to assemble the container/building system  10 , the elongate structural members  30  that form the posts are located within respective sockets  21  of the plate  20 . The elongate structural members  30  are orientated so that the engagement members of the elongate structural members  30  mate with the engagement members  24  of their respective sockets  21 . A locking member  50  is then activated by tightening bolts  54  forcing a pressure plate  51  against the elongate structural members  30  to prevent removal of the elongate structural members from their respective sockets  21  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0052]    The connecting members  40  are then attached to each of the ends of the elongate structural members  30  that are engaged with the sockets  21 . The connecting members  40  are attached to the ends of the elongate structural members  40  by placing the connecting members  40  adjacent the end of their respective elongate structural members  30  so that the locating pins  33  of respective elongate structural member  30  are located within the locating holes  44  of the connecting member  40 . This is shown is  FIG. 3 . A bolt  45  is then placed through the appropriate access aperture  42  and the bolt hole  43  until it engages the captive nut  32  locating within the elongate structural element  30 . The bolt  45  is rotated until the bolt head engages the body  41  of the connecting member  40 . A tool, such as a wheel brace, is then used to tighten the bolt  45  sufficiently so that the elongate structural member  30  is held tightly to the connecting member  40 . This process is repeated for all of the elongate structural members  30  that form beams. 
         [0053]    In order to disassemble the container/building system the bolts  45  are simply removed from the elongate structural members  30  to enable the connecting members  40  to be removed from the elongate structural members  30 . The locking members  50  are then released, opening the respective sockets  21  to enable the elongate structural members  30  to be removed from the plate  20 . In the disassembled state, the container/building systems are able to be transported in bulk. 
         [0054]      FIG. 6B  show a number of floor plates  20  that have been stacked together. The floor plates  20  are aligned using projections which are located in a top face that mate with dimples located in a bottom face. This ensures that all of the sockets  21  are in alignment. When the sockets  21  are in alignment an elongate structural member  30  can be located Through each of the sockets  21 . The locking members  50  can then be simply be engaged to ensure that the elongate member do not become displaced from the sockets  21 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 6C  shows that the position of a floor plate  20  can be varied with respect to the elongate structural member  30 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  show a second embodiment of the invention. Like numerals have been used to describe like components. In this embodiment the engagement members  31  located on each of the elongate structural members  30  are in the form of a modified square wave as opposed to a sine wave. Similarly, engagement members  24  of located within sockets  21  of the plate  20  are also in the form of a modified square wave as opposed to a sine wave. The connection and disconnection of the elongate structural members  30  and the plate  20  are the same as described in the first embodiment. 
         [0057]    Apertures  32  are located within each of the engagement members  31  located on each of the elongate structural members  30  as shown more clearly in  FIGS. 9A to 9C . These apertures  32  are used in conjunction with a joining member  33 . The joining member  33  is formed from two pins  34  and a body  35  which are spaced and sized to be located within two apertures  32  of different elongate structural members  30 . The two joining pins  34  are spaced apart and extend outwardly from the body  35 . 
         [0058]    In use, two elongate structural members  30  that are to be joined together are located adjacent each other so that their respective engagement members  31  are engaged. The joining pins  34  of the joining member  33  are then inserted into apertures  32  of different elongate structural members  30 . This prevents separation of the two elongate structural members  30  with any down force being applied through the engagement members  31 . 
         [0059]    The plate  20  in this embodiment also has a series of tie holes  25  that are used to connect and support an adjacent plate  20 A as shown in  FIG. 10 . The tie holes  25  are within the plate  20  and are spaced around the plate  20 . Two tie holes  25  are located adjacent each end of the plate  20  and three tie hole  25  are located adjacent each side of the plate  20 . Ties  50  are used in conjunction with the tie hoes to attach one plate  20  to an adjacent plate. Each tie  50  is in the form of a Z-shaped clip. The ties  50  are located within the top of the holes  50  on the plate  20  which is used to support the adjacent plate  20 A. The ties  50  are located within the bottom of the slots in supported plate  20 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 11A to 11D  show the container/building system shown in  FIGS. 7 to 10  in practical use.  FIG. 11A  shows how a basic frame structure can be created using plates  20 , elongate structural members  30 , connecting members  40 , and ties  50 . A cover can then be used to cover the frame as shown in  FIG. 11B . Extensions can be made as shown in  FIG. 11C . Hard cladding can also be added as shown in  FIG. 11D . 
         [0061]    In this specification, the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising” or similar terms are intended to mean a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a system, method or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include those elements solely, but may well include other elements not listed. 
         [0062]    It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.