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BuildingsBuildings description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070144079, Buildings. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to improvements in or relating to buildings formed from prefabricated modules and to a building system for constructing buildings employing such pre-fabricated modules. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] It is known to construct buildings of prefabricated modules. Typically, box-shaped modules containing rooms of the buildings are prefabricated and tested off-site and then transported to the building site where they are assembled to form the modular building. This eliminates a large proportion of on-site building and increases the speed of construction of the building. [0003] During construction, the modules are lifted into place by crane with services (such as air conditioning, gas, electricity and water supplies) constructed and connected with the modules after the modules are installed. A roof and external cladding are constructed around the modules to form a weatherproof exterior of the building. In such a construction, recovering the modules causes extensive damage to the roof, cladding and services or is not possible at all. [0004] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a building comprising a plurality of prefabricated modules, wherein each module is removable from the building independently of the other modules and without compromising the integrity of the building. [0005] In this way, the prefabricated modules can be removed and replaced, allowing the building to be adapted to changing user requirements. [0006] The building may comprise a weatherproof exterior surrounding the modules and each module is removable from the building without damaging the weatherproof exterior. [0007] The building may comprise a frame in which the modules are removably mounted. The frame may be made of any suitable material, however in a preferred embodiment the frame is made of steel. [0008] The frame may provide support for external cladding and roofing of the building forming the weatherproof exterior. The external cladding may be removable to allow access to the modules for removal and insertion of the modules. Accordingly, the necessity for tradesmen to enter the building is greatly reduced because tradesmen can gain access to the modules from the exterior of the building by removing the appropriate cladding. [0009] In one arrangement, the removable cladding is a plurality of panels mounted on the outside of the frame and arranged to be detachable from the frame to allow access to modules for removal and re-attachable to the frame once the module has been removed/replaced. [0010] In an alternative arrangement, the removable cladding is a plurality of weather tight doors permanently mounted on the frame and movable from a closed position concealing the modules to an open position allowing access to modules for removal. The doors may be pivotally mounted to the frame and may be opened/closed by any suitable means, for example hydraulic, pneumatic or electric actuators may be employed. [0011] Preferably, means is provided to facilitate insertion and removal of the modules into and from the frame. The means may be a mechanism, which allows the modules to be slid into and from the frame. This aids quicker and safer construction of the building and replacement of modules. [0012] The mechanism may comprise pairs of horizontal skids on the frame and/or modules, each pair of skids arranged to allow a module to slide across the frame to guide and support the modules during insertion and removal. [0013] Alternatively or additionally, the mechanism may comprise guides mounted on the frame that have formations that inter-engage with runners on the module to allow sliding movement of the modules relative to the frame during insertion and removal of the modules. The guides may be mounted on sides of the frame and the runners on outer sidewalls of the modules. In this way, the modules are located in the frame both horizontally and vertically by inter-engagement of the runners with the guides. [0014] Means may be provided to assist insertion/removal of the modules. For example a rack and pinion mechanism, a hydraulic, pneumatic or electric ram or other suitable powered mechanism. [0015] The building may comprise means for supplying services to the modules. The service supply means may be one or more of electricity supply, water supply, gas or other fuel supply, medical gas supply, air conditioning, connections to monitoring means, such as means for monitoring air pressure, decontamination means or the like. [0016] Preferably, prefabricated service modules are provided housing the service supplying means. The service modules may be located in between removable modules. This is desirable as the service supply means can be tested at the factory before assembly and supplied to the building site ready-made increasing the speed of construction of the building. [0017] Each (removable) module may be detachably connected to the services such that the module can be disconnected from the services for removal from the building without damaging the service supply and disrupting the supply of services to other modules. As a result, removal of a module does not cause or only results in minimal downtime for other modules of the building. [0018] The removable modules are suitable for forming part of a decontaminated area of the building as tradesmen can access the modules for removal with minimal interference with the clean area. [0019] The building may be a permanent or semi-permanent building. [0020] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a prefabricated module for assembly into a building according to the first aspect of the invention. [0021] According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a system for detachably securing a building according to the first aspect of the invention to a load bearing foundation. [0022] According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of constructing a building comprising prefabricating a plurality of modules, and assembling the modules together to form a building, wherein each module is assembled to be removable from the building independently from the other modules and without compromising the integrity of the building. Continue reading about Buildings... Full patent description for Buildings Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Buildings patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Buildings or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Expandable container Next Patent Application: Cementitious roofing systems and methods Industry Class: Static structures (e.g., buildings) ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Buildings patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.27832 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , 174 |
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