Modular building connector
AssigneeZ-Modular Holding, Inc.
InventorJulian BOWRON
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector assembly, having an upper connector coupled to a lower connector and a gusset plate sandwiched between the upper and lower connectors. The upper and lower connectors allow for coupling to adjacent upper and lower connectors, respectively, allowing for addition of a modular unit to a pre-existing modular structure. Also, ways of coupling adjacent upper connectors and coupling of adjacent lower connectors when coupling a modular unit to a pre-existing modular structure are provided.
Claims13
1-12. (canceled)
A connector assembly, comprising an upper connector coupled to a lower connector and a gusset plate sandwiched between the upper and lower connectors, the lower connector comprising:
- a lower connector body having a lower connector body column receiving end and a lower connector body gusset contact end, the column receiving end being adapted for receiving a first end of a first module frame and the gusset contact end being adapted for coupling to the gusset plate;
- at least a pair of lower connector arms, each lower connector arm coupled to and extending from the lower connector body and having lower connector arm inner face, a lower connector arm outer face, a lower connector arm gusset contact face, a lower connector arm load bearing face and a lower connector arm beam contact face, the beam contact face being positioned distal from the lower connector body, each lower connector arm having at least one fixing aperture on the load bearing face for receiving a fastening means to couple the lower connector to the upper connector, and each lower connector arm having a hole formed that extends from the lower connector arm inner face to the lower connector arm outer face;
- and
- a lower connector arm boss coupled to and extending from the beam contact face of each arm, the boss having a lower connector arm weld receiving bevel extending from the distal end of the arm;
- the upper connector comprising:
- an upper connector body having an upper connector body column receiving end and an upper connector body gusset contact end, the column receiving end being adapted for receiving a first end of a second module frame and the gusset contact end being adapted for coupling to the gusset plate;
- at least a pair of upper connector arms, each upper connector arm coupled to and extending from the upper connector body and having an upper connector arm inner face, an upper connector arm outer face, an upper connector arm gusset contact face, an upper connector arm load bearing face and an upper connector arm beam contact face, the beam contact face being positioned distal from the upper connector body;
- each upper connector arm having at least one upper connector arm fixing aperture for receiving a fastening means to couple the lower connector to the upper connector and at least one upper connector arm gusset coupling aperture for receiving a second fastening means to couple the upper connector to the gusset plate, and each upper connector arm having a hole formed that extends from the upper connector arm inner face to the upper connector arm outer face;
- and
- an upper connector arm boss coupled to and extending from the upper connector arm beam contact face of each upper connector arm, the boss having an upper connector arm weld receiving bevel extending from the distal end of the arm;
- the gusset plate comprising:
- a gusset plate first face, a gusset plate second face and gusset plate through holes for receiving the coupling and fastening means to couple the upper connector and the lower connector.
A lower connector comprising:
- a lower connector body having a lower connector body column receiving end and a lower connector body gusset contact end, the column receiving end being adapted for receiving a first end of a first module frame and the gusset contact end being adapted for coupling to the gusset plate;
- at least a pair of lower connector arms, each lower connector arm coupled to and extending from the lower connector body and having lower connector arm inner face, a lower connector arm outer face, a lower connector arm gusset contact face, a lower connector arm load bearing face and a lower connector arm beam contact face, the beam contact face being positioned distal from the lower connector body, each lower connector arm having at least one fixing aperture on the load bearing face for receiving a fastening means to couple the lower connector to the upper connector, and each lower connector arm having a hole formed that extends from the lower connector arm inner face to the lower connector arm outer face;
- and
- a lower connector arm boss coupled to and extending from the beam contact face of each arm, the boss having a lower connector arm weld receiving bevel extending from the distal end of the arm.
An upper connector comprising:
- an upper connector body having an upper connector body column receiving end and an upper connector body gusset contact end, the column receiving end being adapted for receiving a first end of a second module frame and the gusset contact end being adapted for coupling to the gusset plate;
- at least a pair of upper connector arms, each upper connector arm coupled to and extending from the upper connector body and having an upper connector arm inner face, an upper connector arm outer face, an upper connector arm gusset contact face, an upper connector arm load bearing face and an upper connector arm beam contact face, the beam contact face being positioned distal from the upper connector body;
- each upper connector arm having at least one upper connector arm fixing aperture for receiving a fastening means to couple the lower connector to the upper connector and at least one upper connector arm gusset coupling aperture for receiving a second fastening means to couple the upper connector to the gusset plate, and each upper connector arm having a hole formed that extends from the upper connector arm inner face to the upper connector arm outer face;
- and
- an upper connector arm boss coupled to and extending from the upper connector arm beam contact face of each upper connector arm, the boss having an upper connector arm weld receiving bevel extending from the distal end of the arm;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.