Patent EA-000156-B1 (EA)
Title: Modular building framework
IPC: E04B1/08
Filed: 1996-05-01
Abstract: 1. A modular building framework comprising structural sub-frames and interconnecting plates, wherein said structural sub-frames being of an open construction having a pre-determined configuration and being removably connected to form the building framework including walls and roof; wherein wall sub-frames are removably connected to form wall structures, roof sub-frames are removably connected to the wall sub-frames by first interconnecting plates and adjacent roof sub-frames meeting at a ridge are removably connected by second interconnecting plates to form a roof structure; the connection of sub-frames to sub-frames and sub-frames to interconnecting plates being by removable fixing means; said modular building framework being constructible in multiple configurations; and wherein structural integrity of the building framework is provided by the interconnecting sub-frames without the need for cladding or bracing. 2. The modular building framework of Claim 1 wherein the structural sub-frames comprise perimeter members providing structural integrity and internal members providing cladding support. 3. The modular building framework of Claim 1 wherein the roof structure is provided by interconnected sub-frames without trusses or bracing. 4. The modular building framework of Claim 1 further comprising a ceiling structure formed from interconnected sub-frames. 5. The modular building framework of Claim 1 wherein the structural sub-frames are assembled from materials having high tensile strength selected from the list including metal sections, carbon fibre beams, synthetic timber and plastic. 6. The modular building framework of Claim 1 wherein the sub-frames and interconnecting plates are pre-manufactured. 7. The modular building framework of Claim 1 wherein the connection of wall sub-frames to roof sub-frames by first interconnecting plates permits the formation of eaves. 8. The modular building framework of Claim 1 further comprising third interconnecting plates for removably connecting one or more structural sub-frames having a pre-determined configuration to form combination sub-frames. 9. The modular building framework of Claim 1 wherein structural sub-frames are interconnected to form internal wall structures, ceiling structures and floor structures without additional structural components. 10. The modular building framework of Claim 1 further comprising a foundation upon which the sub-frames are erected. 11. A method of constructing a modular building having structural sub-frames and interconnecting plates including the steps of: pre-manufacturing a plurality of structural sub-frames including wail sub-frames and roof sub-frames, said sub-frames being of an open construction and having a pre-determined configuration; removably connecting adjacent wall sub-frames with removable fixing means to form wall structures; removably connecting roof sub-frames to said wall sub-frames with first interconnecting plates and removable fixing means; removably connecting adjacent roof sub-frames with removable fixing means and adjacent roof sub-frames meeting at a ridge with second interconnecting plates and removable fixing means to form a roof structure, said roof structure not requiring truss members for structural integrity; and removably attaching cladding to the roof structure and wall structures to form the modular building. 12. The method of Claim 11 wherein the step of removably connecting adjacent roof sub-frames to form a roof structure includes the step of removably connecting roof sub-frames meeting at a ridge with second interconnecting plates. 13. The method of Claim 11 further including the steps of removably connecting further wall sub-frames to the wall structures to form internal wall structures. 14. The method of Claim 11 further including the steps of pre-manufacturing floor sub-frames and removably connecting the floor sub-frames to form an internal floor structure. 15. The method of Claim 11 further including the steps of pre-manufacturing ceiling sub-frames and removably connecting the ceiling sub-frames to form a ceiling structure, said ceiling sub-frames being removably connected to wall sub-frames. 16. The method of Claim 11 further including the step of removably connecting sub-frames to sub-frames with third interconnecting plates to form larger structures. 17. The method of Claim 11, further including the steps of: detaching cladding from a modular building framework of the modular building; disconnecting one or more sub-frames from adjacent sub-frames and one or more interconnecting plates by removing removable fixing means; connecting additional sub-frames to existing sub-frames and one or more interconnecting plates to extend or modify the modular building framework; re-connecting disconnected sub-frames and interconnecting plates with removable fixing means; and attaching cladding to complete the reconfigured modular building.