Abstract:
A prefabricated portable building that meets flat pack pallet standards of the North Atlantic Trade Organization (NATO) is provided. The prefabricated building, includes at least 2 end units, wherein each end unit includes an outer wall, an inner wall, a roof, and a floor, wherein the outer wall and the floor converge to form an edge having an angle of less than 90 degrees, and wherein the inner wall and the floor converge to form an angle of about 90 degrees.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application is a Continuation-In-Part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/449,419, entitled “Prefabricated Portable Flat Pack Building”, by inventor David MacWatt, filed May 30, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety; and the present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/448,690, entitled “System and Method for Assembling Prefabricated Portable Flat Pack Building”, by inventor David M. MacWatt, filed May 30, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE  
       [0002]     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0004]     The present invention generally relates to portable buildings and, more particularly, to prefabricated portable buildings that meet designated standards for flat pack transportation.  
         [0005]     2. Discussion of Background  
         [0006]     People typically use prefabricated portable buildings for emergency situations. For example, the military may be in a situation where it needs to construct a hospital in a matter of hours. A permanent building structure would be impractical. Consider a situation where hospital facilities are needed in a desert of the Middle East. A building most suitable for military purposes would likely be some type of prefabricated portable building that can be quickly erected with all the necessary hospital facilities.  
         [0007]     Manufacturers prefabricate portable buildings in a controlled factory environment and ship the building pieces to the designated site for assembly. Users install these portable buildings at the designated site for temporary, as well as permanent, applications.  
         [0008]     The industry has its beginnings in the post World War II era, when the huge demand for housing for returning GI&#39;s overwhelmed the construction industry&#39;s ability to deliver. The U.S. developed prefabricated portable housing as a solution to this demand. Other countries with severe commercial building needs following the war, also developed simplistic modular construction techniques. In the following decades, technological advances have increased the quality of those initial efforts, as well as opened the door to new applications of modular construction.  
         [0009]     Today, people use prefabricated construction in almost every industry and walk of life, including construction offices, educational facilities, medical facilities, industrial uses, prison and correctional housing and administration, branch financial offices, real estate offices, government buildings, and general commercial offices.  
         [0010]     Rapid Deployment Units have been designed for use in applications where immediate shelter and protection for persons and property is required and where a permanent building structure would be impractical. Such applications include disaster relief and resettlement efforts, schools, hospitals and accommodation in economically disadvantaged regions, military applications to house personnel and equipment, gas, oil and minerals exploration accommodation, temporary accommodation on construction sites, space for special social events and exhibitions, shelter or breeding facility for livestock, horses or pets, and the “home office” concept where the building is set up in the external grounds of a home.  
         [0011]     The local conditions at deployment may be tough, such as during or after war or a natural disaster such as a hurricane, tornado, flood or volcanic eruption. The environment maybe extreme, such as arctic, desert or very wet conditions. In these cases, an insulated accommodation would then be advantageous.  
         [0012]     The ground may be rough, stony and wet so keeping the floor or base of the unit off the ground is often necessary. Skilled labor to build accommodation is often scarce or non-existent. So simple construction methods are required. Space to erect the shelter may be tight, e.g. between trees or on a major construction site.  
         [0013]     The infra-structure around the deployment site may be dangerous, remote and inaccessible, limiting the use of heavy transport and large cranes. So the use of bulk transport followed by light transport, e.g. helicopter, even mules may be required. Therefore the units must be light, robust, be compatible with standard and military transport modes while being easily broken down to simplify final transportation to the deployment zone.  
         [0014]     Because humans prefer privacy and seek security, and because many deployment situation require security for vital medical, food and water supplies and a place to store sophisticated military and IT equipment. Rapid Deployment Units are preferably hard sided, secure structures that can be safely locked up and armored.  
         [0015]     Existing Rapid Deployment Units possess some of the following characteristics:  
         [0016]     Soft-sided tent-type structures often having a frame structure of aluminum, steel or a composite material, sometimes hinged to facilitate deployment. The metal structure may be of ribbed, hooped or diamond beam pattern. The structure is covered with a fabric or textile, perhaps woven, for example, cotton, impregnated polyethylene with PVC or low density polyethylene. Although these structures work well for a period, they lack durability, are more susceptible to damage, are difficult to sanitize, they lack the desired security and armor protection requirements, require cleaner flatter, dryer ground and are more bulky to transport. Problems can exist in strong wind, driving rain and sand storm conditions. Human privacy is limited. Although insulated tent-type products exist, their insulation value and hence ability to control internal temperature and protect humans or property is limited.  
         [0017]     Hard sided units exist and have the following characteristics:  
         [0018]     ISO steel shipping containers are one solution. They are widely available by many companies servicing the deployable shelter market and relatively inexpensive. They offer security and are easily transported to sea ports. However, from a transportation viewpoint, they are a volumetric option and so the floor space or habitable or storage area per unit shipped is limited to around 15 m 2 . Shipping cost per usable floor space is expensive. Heavy transportation equipment is required to lift and locate the units for deployment. For standard ISO sea containers, insulation does not exist unless pre-fitted.  
         [0019]     Other hard sided shelters use metal or composite insulated sandwich elements which add strength, security, insulation, are tough, durable and lightweight. These units can be armored. However the hard sided units differ in their ease of deployment and transportation and are expensive for large volume humanitarian aid use.  
         [0020]     Some are assembled with adhesives and fasteners and are deployed as a volumetric option with the corresponding problems of transportation cost, volume and deployment. Some of these units reduce the transportation issues by having designs that expand out of the base unit structure, improving floor space shipped by unit by up to 3-fold.  
         [0021]     Other more modular designs have hinges that fold or collapse the structure into flat pack units so that more units can be transported inside ISO sea containers, flat bed transport and military aircraft. However, some of these units require cranes and jacks to deploy the units while others require 6 to 8 persons to deploy the units because of the large panel size and high panel weight.  
         [0022]     Thus, there is a need for a truly lightweight, modular rapid deployment unit for any terrain that is cost effective to ship worldwide.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     When users disassemble a prefabricated building, they often need to place the pieces of the building into a “flat-pack” pallet. The flat pack form of a portable building is basically the walls, floors, roofs, and fittings of the building broken down into their smallest portable package. A flat-pack pallet sets limits on the building&#39;s specifications, such as size, weight and strength. Moreover, the North Atlantic Trade Organization (NATO) has their own guidelines on the specifications of a standard flat-pack pallet. Thus, engineers are faced with the challenge of designing a structure that is not only portable, but is also compliant with NATO guidelines and any other guidelines.  
         [0024]     It has been recognized that what is needed is a prefabricated flat pack building that meets flat pack pallet standards of the North Atlantic Trade Organization (NATO). Broadly speaking, the present invention fills this need by providing a fast response building, which is a building designed, among other things, to meet the flat pack standards of NATO. It should be appreciated that the present invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process, an apparatus, a system, a device or a method. Several inventive embodiments of the present invention are described below.  
         [0025]     In one embodiment, a prefabricated portable flat pack building that is a single unit building is described. The prefabricated building, comprises 2 end units, wherein each end unit includes an outer wall, an inner wall, a roof, and a floor, wherein the outer wall and the floor converge to form an edge having an angle of less than 90 degrees, and wherein the inner wall and the floor converge to form an angle of about 90 degrees.  
         [0026]     In another embodiment, a prefabricated portable flat pack building that is a multiple unit building is described. The prefabricated building comprises 2 end units, wherein each end unit includes an outer wall, an inner wall, a roof, and a floor, wherein the outer wall and the floor converge to form an edge having an angle of less than 90 degrees, and wherein the inner wall and the floor converge to form an angle of about 90 degrees; and one or more intermediate units, wherein the one or more intermediate units share a same angle measurements of the 2 end units.  
         [0027]     In still another embodiment, an end unit of a prefabricated portable flat pack building is described. The end unit comprises an outer wall; an inner wall; a roof; and a floor, wherein the outer wall and the floor converge to form an edge having an outer wall angle of less than 90 degrees, and wherein the inner wall and the floor converge to form an inner wall angle of about 90 degrees.  
         [0028]     Prefabricated portable flat pack buildings have many advantages. A significant advantage of prefabricated construction is time savings. Manufacturers may build prefabricated flat pack buildings on a controlled timetable in a factory environment. On the other hand, site-built buildings are subject to weather conditions, subcontractor deals, waits for permits, and labor shortages. Prefabricated construction also provides cost savings due to standardization of the engineering process, bulk purchase of building materials and the controlled factory construction environment. Users of portable buildings gain an additional advantage in the quality of construction. A standardized construction method at the factory with skilled and knowledgeable labor means a building is not dependent on the vagaries and availability of the local labor market.  
         [0029]     Another significant advantage of prefabricated portable flat pack buildings is economy of space. When disassembled in their flat pack form, prefabricated portable flat pack buildings may be stored at any appropriate location, including a warehouse, outdoors, or any location that may be substantially smaller than the building in its assembled form. A prefabricated portable flat pack building according to the present invention can be broken down into an economically small space for easy transport and storage.  
         [0030]     The invention encompasses other embodiments of a system, a method, and an apparatus, which are configured as set forth above and with other features and alternatives.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0031]     The present invention will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. To facilitate this description, like reference numerals designate like structural elements.  
         [0032]      FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  show perspective views of a single fast response building (FRB), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0033]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the end unit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows perspective views of segments of an FRB flat packed into a pallet, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0035]      FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  show perspective views of a multiple unit FRB, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0036]      FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  show perspective views of a multiple unit FRB with a joining corridor, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0037]      FIG. 6  through  FIG. 52  combine to show an assembly process of a multiple unit FRB with a joining corridor, in accordance with embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0038]      FIG. 53  shows examples of the clips and pins used to join the panels of the FRB together, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0039]      FIG. 54  shows an example of a clip component that is wired to the welded clip component with a wire, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0040]      FIG. 55  shows an example of a locking pin, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0041]      FIG. 56  shows an example of a foot-type pin, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0042]     An invention for a prefabricated portable flat pack building is disclosed. Numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be understood, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details.  
         [heading-0043]     General Overview  
         [0044]     Fast response buildings (FRB&#39;s) are prefabricated portable buildings designed to be transported in flat-pack pallets. An FRB takes only about 2-4 people fifteen to thirty minutes to construct into a rigid structure for immediate use. No screws, no nuts, no special tools and no ground preparation are needed. An FRB is fully insulated for use in extreme climatic conditions. The FRB system is economical to transport by air, sea, road or rail.  
         [0045]     FRB units are made from individual lightweight sections which interlock to form a rigid structure. Individual components make it easy to handle and maneuver, allowing each unit to be constructed in the most difficult locations. FRB can be situated virtually anywhere, including forests, mountains, desert sand, snow, ice and most types of terrain. FRB units can be transported and positioned by helicopter, as flat pack system or a complete constructed unit. FRB units are compatible with any conventional cargo transportation system. Specifically, FRB units can be configured to be compatible with International Standards Organization (ISO) sea containers, or with military Demountable Rack Off-load Pick-up System (DROPS). Alternatively, each individual section can be carried to site and constructed.  
         [0046]     Relocating without dismantling is achieved by 3 specially designed ski-bars (or “skids”) located at the base of the unit. The base unit provides for 2 couplings (such as D rings), which can be attached to a tow-bar by rope or chain allowing the building to slide and move in position. A vehicle such as a Land Rover is capable of achieving this sliding task on average ground conditions.  
         [0047]     Two appliqué fitments can be added to act as rollers, facilitating loading the units into containers or aircraft both as a pallet and when stacking to prevent damage. In addition, when the prefabricated portable flat pack building is erected it can have a geometry that allows high winds to create a down force which helps keep the building on the ground (i.e. similar to the effect of a rear spoiler on an automobile).  
         [0048]     FRB flexible and unique modular units can be used to construct anything, from a single leisure home or storage unit, to a large emergency hospital complex or emergency re-housing due to a disaster. Each unit can sleep up to 10 people. Principally designed for Emergency accommodation for Peace Keepers and Military requirements, an FRB&#39;s applications are endless.  
         [heading-0049]     Types of Fast Response Buildings  
         [0050]      FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  show perspective views of a single FRB, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The single building comprises two end units  102 , including an outer wall  106 , an inner wall  108 , and a roof  104 , among other things.  
         [0051]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the end unit  102 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The roof  104  and the base  110  (or floor) have the same dimensions. However, the outer wall  106  and the inner wall  108  do not have the same dimensions. The height of the inner wall  108  is slightly greater than the height of the outer wall  106 . Angle θ is set to be about 90 degrees. While angle φ is set to be less than 90 degrees, specifically between about 86 degrees and 88 degrees. Accordingly, the outer wall  106  leans at a slight angle inward.  
         [0052]     Established rules of trigonometry set limitations on allowable measurements for angles ω and ρ. Angle ω is accordingly less than 90 degrees, for example, between about 83 and 85 degrees. Angle ρ is accordingly greater than 90 degrees, for example, between about 98 and 100 degrees.  
         [0053]     Important features of the FRB is the slight inward tilt of the outer wall  106 , the height of the inner wall  108  being slightly greater than the height of the outer wall  106 , and the equality in dimensions of the roof  104  and the base  110  (or floor). This combination creates unique building measurements that allow the FRB to be disassembled neatly into a standard NATO flat pack pallet.  
         [0054]     It should be noted, however, that the present invention is not limited to the specific measurements provided above. The specific measurements provided above are primarily for exemplary purposes to show the inward lean of the outer wall  106 .  
         [0055]     By way of further example, an FRB unit can be constructed which can fit in a standard C130 cargo plane and have a 240 m 2  floor space when fully assembled. Similarly, a 227 m 2  floor space building can be packed into a 40 foot ISO sea container.  
         [heading-0056]     Clips and Pins Assembly System  
         [0057]      FIG. 53  shows examples of the clips  204  and pins  202  used to join the panels of the FRB together, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. These clips and pins are unique to the system and replace bolts, nuts and screws. In the example of  FIG. 53 , the clips are welded and/or clipped to the respective panels and are extremely difficult to damage or lose. In particular, the clips  204  and pins  202  lock the whole FRB together in a manner that is robust yet retains a degree of flexibility. Assembly of the FRB using clips  204  and pins  202  is less time consuming than assembly of a structure that uses conventional fixings, such as bolts, nuts and screws.  
         [0058]     As shown in  FIG. 53 , the pins  202  are inserted where required in order to prevent horizontal and vertical movement. As such, the pins  202  are an integral part of the system. The pins  202  and clips  204  are used throughout the FRB structure to lock wall to wall, wall to gable, wall to roof, roof to gable, etc.  
         [0059]      FIG. 54  shows an example of a clip component  302  that is wired to the welded clip component  204  with a wire  304 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The wired clip component  302  locks the FRB superstructure in place.  
         [0060]      FIG. 55  shows an example of a locking pin  402 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. This locking pin  402  with the locking feature is used to secure the probes (which connect the base sections together), the skids, the legs (when flat packed assembled), the veranda (or step) and the mast stabilizer to the FRB. The locking pin  402  includes a washer  406  having a slot. To the fix the locking pin  402 , the locking pin  402  is placed in the base runner using the handle  408  at the top of the locking pin  402 . The locking pin  402  is maneuvered to allow the slot in the washer  406  to pass through the seg  404 , which is attached to the base runner. When the handle is released the locking pin  402  turns and will not free itself. Note that the sizes and diameters shown here are for explanatory purposes, and may vary.  
         [0061]      FIG. 56  shows an example of a foot-type pin  502 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The foot-type pin is another way of locking components (e.g., gable, base, wall, and roof) of the FRB into place. The foot-type pin  502  is maneuvered into the appropriate hole and slides into place. In this example, a wall is shown being locked to the base  110 . Note that the sizes and diameters shown here are for explanatory purposes, and may vary.  
         [0062]      FIG. 3  shows perspective views of segments of an FRB flat packed into a pallet, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. All of the component parts flat pack on to its own base  110  (or floor). The flat pack segments may then stack upon each other. Accordingly, when flat packet, one half of the base  110  of the unit becomes the pallet. The components of the FRB are placed on top of that half of the base  110 . The remaining half of the base  110  is stacked on top of the components with the leg sockets  602  of the top half of the base  110  situated to be in line with the leg sockets  602  of the bottom half of the base  110 . The legs  604  are then inserted. The resulting box-like unit is locked together with the locking pins.  
         [0063]      FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  show perspective views of a multiple unit FRB, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The multiple unit building comprises 2 ends and the intermediate units  302  are inserted as required.  FIG. 3  shows 4 intermediate units  302 . However, the number of intermediate units  302  that can be inserted is, in theory, infinite. For example, an intermediate unit  302  may be about 2.25 m in length. These intermediate units  302  may be added such that the length of the FRB is a multiple of 2.25 m. Note that the present invention is not limited to these specific dimensions, and other appropriate dimensions for intermediate units  302  may be used.  
         [0064]      FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  show perspective views of a multiple unit FRB with a joining corridor, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The multiple unit building with a joining corridor comprises 4 end units  102 . The intermediate units  302  and corridors  402  are inserted as required. Note that segment walls, floors, and ceilings of all the FRB units have the same dimensions and will flat pack onto a NATO pallet for easy portability.  
         [heading-0065]     Assembly Process of a Fast Response Building  
         [0066]     The sequence  FIG. 6  through  FIG. 52  steps through an assembly process of a multiple unit FRB with a joining corridor, in accordance with embodiment of the present invention. The assembly process starts in  FIG. 6  with a floor segment. The assembly finishes in  FIG. 52  with a fully assembled multiple unit FRB with a joining corridor. Intermediate figures  FIG. 6  through  FIG. 51  sequentially step through the assembly of the multiple unit FRB.  
         [heading-0067]     Additional Features and Advantages of a Fast Response Building  
         [0068]     A fast response building (FRB) may be equipped to suit any environment. An FRB may be provided with added solar protection. An FRB may be equipped with added insulation. An FRB can also have nuclear biological and chemical (NBC) lining along its interior. An FRB may have mosquito or fly screens for doors and windows. An FRB may have mast stabilizers for wind generators or aerials. An FRB may have rain water collection and storage mechanisms. In addition, an FRB may have structures for facilitating the removal of snow and sand. An FRB may have ballistic protection, applique armor, up to, but not limited to, about 7.62 standard NATO ball. An FRB may have load spreader plates, to cater for dessert or wet ground. An FRB may have a multi solid fuel stove for cooking and heating.  
         [0069]     FRB&#39;s have many advantages. FRB units are easily deployable. As can be seen in the sequence  FIG. 6  through  FIG. 52 , FRB units are easily assembled on any type of terrain. Adjustable legs produce a level platform. FRB&#39;s can be erected quickly.  
         [0070]     FRB&#39;s are mobile. FRB&#39;s are transported in flat pack pallets and can be moved by air, including by helicopter, sea, vehicle, on their own wheels or on ski-type skids. No significant wear and tear occurs during transport and assembly of the FRB pallets and FRB infrastructure because their made of rugged steel. An FRB is designed to be stacked outside when not in use, and can withstand harsh weather conditions while stored outside. An FRB can be manufactured and repaired substantially anywhere, including countries having only low tech facilities. Even if a particular locale does not have the necessary facilities and parts to repair the FRB locally, the particular locale can send out for spare parts without difficulty. Alternatively, parts of an FRB can be repaired locally by using ordinary metallurgy techniques, for example, ordinary welding, rivets or adhesive techniques. Thus, if a part of an FRB fails, the user of the FRB does not have to idly wait around for a new FRB to arrive.  
         [0071]     FRB&#39;s have many applications. FRB&#39;s can be used individually, and can be extended or interconnected to create field dressing stations, hospitals, workshops, command stations, administration buildings, classrooms and safe storage areas, as well as accommodations and a place to hold livestock.  
         [0072]     In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.