Patent Publication Number: US-2012031014-A1

Title: Prefabricated Outbuilding

Description:
PRIORITY 
     The present invention claims priority under 35 USC section 119 based upon a provisional application with a Ser. No. 61/231,818 which was filed on Aug. 6, 2009. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of outbuildings and more particularly to a prefabricated outbuilding. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many of the homes dominating the American landscape no longer provide adequate space to meet the needs and desires of the American family. One to three bedroom homes, homes lacking a family room or den, and homes with only single car garages are insufficient for many families&#39; needs. Further, home offices have become increasingly popular and have placed additional demands on the space available in many existing homes. While moving to a larger home may be an option for some families, others cannot afford the expense and inconvenience of moving. Existing relationships with community schools and activities, local houses of worship and other conveniences, and nearby friends and family may also be a deterrent to moving. Further, as cities and suburbs expand, and the available spaces for new development decrease, something will need to be done about the functionally obsolete, though otherwise desirable, existing homes. 
     Unfortunately, the prospect of adding a housing addition can be daunting. Hiring an architect to design a compatible addition can be expensive and time consuming. A new design may take 2-3 months to prepare and customization of the design to the homeowner&#39;s needs may require considerable time and effort from the homeowner. After preparation, review of the plans for the appropriate building permits may take 6-10 weeks. 
     Finding an available contractor and getting financing for both the design and building stages may require additional time and effort. Engaging a contractor to build the addition adds additional expenses and even the hardiest do-it-yourselfer generally lacks the tools and expertise to construct an entire addition from the ground up. Homeowners may have difficulty finding a contractor they can trust and may fear being overcharged or provided with sub-standard workmanship and materials. Reliable and inexpensive architects and contractors may be difficult to find. 
     Homeowners may also be discouraged by the time and mess associated with the construction of a housing addition. Construction of an addition, even after permits are in place, typically takes 2-3 months and may be made longer by weather delays, inspection delays, building mistakes, lack of contractor and sub-contractor availability, and other delays. Protracted construction on an existing property can wreak havoc with family routines, strain relationships with neighbors, and render the general aesthetics and utility of the existing property undesirable for the duration of the construction. There is a need for a fast and inexpensive way to design and construct a house addition. 
     The use of a pre-fabricated kit to construct a building, has been around for many years. Perhaps the most common forms of kit construction are log home kits and the kits used by some contractors to construct a large number of similar tract homes. In many kits, wall frames and trusses are pre-fabricated at a factory and delivered to the building site. The wall frames may include window and door frames, and exterior wall frames may have plywood or similar coverings pre-installed on their exteriors. At the building site, the frames and trusses are positioned using a building crane and attached using pneumatic nail guns or similar devices. Further framing may be required on-site. Plywood exteriors may be added to the walls and roof and the roof may be covered, for example, by shingles or other roofing materials. The various house systems, such as plumbing, electrical, and HVAC may be installed. Windows and doors may be installed. Drywall may be added on the interior of walls and ceilings and various stages of finishing work, such as painting and installing siding, flooring, cabinetry, fixtures, molding, and other items, may be completed. 
     Such building kits may require special equipment, such as building cranes, to assemble. They may require special expertise for installing house systems and finishing. They may be challenging to customize or redesign due to the use of large, building specific, pre-fabricated sections. They may require considerable on-site labor to assemble and complete and on-site completion may provide considerable opportunity for human error, failed inspections, and other delays. Such building kits may be incompatible with existing buildings, lot sizes, and lot shapes. 
     SUMMARY 
     A prefabricated outbuilding may include a first vertically oriented upright, a support beam supported by the vertically oriented upright, a groove supporting structure extending over the first vertically oriented upright, a second upright to support the roof support structure, an accessory including an upper end and a lower end to support the prefabricated outbuilding. The upper end may receive the lower end of the first vertically oriented upright, and the lower end may be adapted to drive into a support surface. 
     The support surface may be earth, and the support surface may be concrete. 
     The lower end may include an aperture to receive rebar, and the upper and may include an aperture to receive a fastener. 
     The prefabricated outbuilding may include a roof support beam to support a roof, and the prefabricated outbuilding may include a deck. 
     The prefabricated outbuilding may be transportable, and the pre-fabricated outbuilding may include at least two enclosures and may include four enclosures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a prefabricated outbuilding comprising an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the transport of the basic structure of  FIG. 1  on a flatbed truck. 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the prefabricated outbuilding of  FIG. 1  showing a variety of accessories useful in conjunction therewith; 
         FIG. 4A  is front perspective view showing a first completed outbuilding incorporating the basic structure of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective view illustrating a second completed outbuilding; 
         FIG. 4C  is a perspective view illustrating a third completed outbuilding; 
         FIG. 4D  is a perspective view illustrating a completed outbuilding comprising two of the basic structures illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4E  is a perspective view illustrating a completed outbuilding comprising two of the basic structures illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the fixture for securing the basic structure of  FIG. 1  and completed structures incorporating the basic structure of  FIG. 1  to the underlying surface: and 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings, in particularly to  FIG. 1 , the basic construction of a prefabricated outbuilding  10  comprising the present invention is shown. The outbuilding  10  comprises a plurality of vertically oriented uprights  12 . The embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1  comprises fifteen uprights  12 , it being understood that the exact number of uprights utilized in any particular embodiment of the invention depends on the dimensions and configuration thereof. A plurality of nominally horizontally disposed support beams  14  are supported on the upper ends of the uprights  12 , The support beams  14  extend beyond the uprights  12  to provide a load receiving and sheltering deck  16 . The deck  16  comprises a plurality of horizontally disposed load supporting beams  18 . The supporting members may be connected by bolts, screws, nails or other fastening devices at the joinery of the beams and elsewhere. 
     An angularly disposed roof supporting structure  20  extends over the entirety of the area defined by the outermost vertically disposed uprights  12  and extends over a portion of the deck  16  as illustrated at  22 . The roof  20  is supported at its lower end by direct connection to the support beams  14  and is further supported by uprights  24  which are secured to the support beams  14  and are positioned directly above the corresponding uprights  12 . The roof  20  is further defined by five angularly extending roof support beams  26  each comprising spaced, parallel members  28 . The support beam  14  and the uprights  24  extend between the members  26  comprising the roof  20  and are secured thereto by suitable fasteners. The roof  20  in turn supports cross members  30  which extend perpendicularly to the support beams  26 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a prefabricated building comprising the present invention mounted on a flat bed truck (‘FBT”) for transportation to its ultimate location. The relatively inexpensive transportability of prefabricated out buildings comprises an important feature of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates various accessories that may be utilized in conjunction with the basic structure of  FIG. 1 . The roof  20  may be secured against rain, snow, leaves, etc. entering the interior of the structure  10  by conventional shingles  36  which are installed over the support members  30  in the conventional manner. Conventional roof decking  38  may he secured on the extending portions of the beams  14  in lieu of or in addition to the members  16  shown in  FIG. 1 . The interior of the building  10  may be secured by panels  40  some or all of which may comprise either single-hung or double-hung doors. The ends of the building  10  may be secured by wooden panels  42 A,  42 W  42 C and  42 D. One or more of the panels  42 A- 42 D, inclusive, may be replaced by a selected glass panel  44 A,  44 B,  44 C, and/or  44 D. Alternatively, one or more of the wooden panels  42 A,  42 B,  42 C and  42 D may be replaced by a corresponding screen panel  46 A,  46 B,  46 C and/or  46 D. 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates a fully completed transportable outbuilding  50  comprising the present invention All of the exterior panels, interior panels, and support members comprising the transportable outbuilding may be formed from only or in combination substantially rigid materials such as wood, metal, plastic or other appropriate material, it being understood that one or more of the panels can be fully or partially constructed from other materials such as glass, screening, etc. 
     The transportable outbuilding  50  comprises four separate enclosures each defined by an interior wall  52  and an individual door  54 . The doors  54  illustrated in  FIG. 4  comprise double-hung doors including an upper portion  54 A and a lower portion  54 B, it being understood that the doors  54  may comprise other conventional configurations including in particular a single, solid door for each of the compartments  52 . The configuration of the transportable building  50  is readily adapted to the housing of animals with separate compartments  52  facilitating the separation of the various animals as needed. The transportable outbuilding  50  is further adapted to the storage of various tools and/or the storage of various materials such as feeds, fertilizers, etc. in accordance with the requirements of particular applications of the invention. 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates a configuration of the transportable building of the present invention which differs substantially from that of  FIG. 4A . The roof  62  of the building  60  is fully covered but in a manner different from the configuration of the roof of the building  50  of  FIG. 4A . More importantly, the sides and the front of the building  60  comprise panels  64  which are formed from glass. Thus, the transportable outbuilding  60  of  FIG. 4A  is readily adapted for use as a hot house to facilitate the nurturing of plants, as a playhouse for children, etc. 
       FIG. 4C  illustrates an adaptation of the invention wherein the basic structure of  FIG. 1  is doubled in length. The particular structure  70  illustrated in FIG.  4 B comprises an entirely open front wall  72  and fully closed side walls  74  and back wall  76 . Screening is provided at the upper portions  78  of the side walls  74  and the upper portion  80  of the front wall  72  to further facilitate ventilation. Thus, the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 4B  is readily adapted to the storage of farm implements and related supplies and materials, to the storage of vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles, golf carts, etc. and to the storage of articles and accessories utilized in a wide variety of outdoor activities. 
       FIG. 4D  illustrates a completed structure  80  comprising two of the basic structures  10  shown in  FIG. 1  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. The building  80  comprises a first completed building  82  and a second completed building  84  which are oriented in a facing relationship. The buildings  82  and  84  are independent, free standing structures with the exception of a connection  86 . Although the buildings  82  and  84  are shown to be substantially identical in  FIG. 4C , those skilled in the art will appreciate the fact that the present invention does not require that there is any commonality whatsoever between the building  82  and the building  84 . 
     Those skilled in the art will realize that the configuration of the present invention shown in  FIG. 4D  is adapted to a wide variety of adaptations. For example, the building  82  could comprise a kitchen and dining area and the building  84  could comprise a sleeping area. Alternatively, the building  82  could comprise storage for animal feed and animal-related products and accessories. Yet another adaptation of the building  80  would be configured for utilization and conjunction with swimming facilities wherein the building  82  would comprise changing and bathroom facilities for women and girls and the building  84  would comprise changing and bathroom facilities for men and boys. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the structure  80  is readily adapted to many other utilizations. 
       FIG. 4E  illustrates yet another utilization of the present invention. The building  90  includes components  92  and  94  each of which comprises the basic structure illustrated in  FIG. 1  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. In addition thereto a third component  96  is constructed in the area extending between the two components  92  and  94  that would otherwise he open and exposed to the elements. The number of components is not limited, but is intended to be flexible to achieve the goals of the owner. The components may be added in a linear format, generally in any direction. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the configuration of the building  90  is readily adapted to the storage and management of animals. For example, the components  92  and  94  may be utilized for confinement and protection of various types and kinds of animals and the component  96  may be utilized for storage of feed for the animals that are housed in the components  92  and  94 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an accessory  100  which may be described as a steel receiving boot/pier like device for ground installation in order to stabilize the outbuilding and useful in the practice of the invention in order to secure the outbuilding  10  which may be formed from steel, concrete or other rigid material. The accessory  100  includes an upper portion  102  which receives and is detachably connected to the lower ends of an upright  12  comprising the basic structure shown in  FIG. 1 . The upper portion  102  may conform to the cross-sectional shape of the upright  12 . The upper end  102  is provided with a plurality of apertures  104  which receive fasteners therethrough thereby securing the lower end of the upright  12  to the accessory  100 . The fasteners may be bolts, screws or other types of fasteners. The lower end  106  of the accessory  100  is secured into a support surface such as being driven into the earth, positioned within concrete or a composite wood material which may be similar to a wood floor deck or other appropriate material thereby securing the various structures show in  FIGS. 1 through 4E  and described hereinabove in conjunction herewith from overturning due to high winds, and the like. The accessory  106  may also be secured in concrete in which case the lower member  106  is provided with lengths of rebar which extend through the member  106  and outwardly therefrom for engagement with the concrete that surrounds the member  106 . 
     The present invention including the outbuilding  10  may be partially or totally green and construction and operation and may include solar power to provide electricity for the outbuilding  10  and water harvesting facilities to make the outbuilding  10  a self-sustaining unit. 
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.