Modular building structure
OwnerDavid C. Jenseninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a modular wall and floor structure, the edges of wall panels have upwardly directed hooks pivoted for swinging between retracted positions and positions projecting outwardly from their opposite vertical edges. Short lengths of multisided hollow extrusion have a downwardly opening longitudinal slot in each side which slots receive the panel hooks of adjacent panels in projected positions for connecting such panels to form an exhibit array. Adjacent ends of overhead beams are connected to each other and to the upper ends of the panels by downwardly directed beam hooks received in upper longitudinal slots in the lengths of extrusion. The lower portions of the connected or unconnected panels can be clamped between modular floor components.
Claims22
A freestanding, post-free modular building structure comprising an array of upright modular panels;
- panel-connecting means connecting adjacent edges of adjacent panels in said array;
- three overhead beam members, said beam members being horizontal and assembled in coplanar triangular relationship;
- and beam-and-panel connecting means connecting each end of said beam members with one adjacent beam member end with said beam members in such triangular relationship and interconnecting said interconnected beam member ends and said modular panels for supporting said interconnected beam members entirely above the upper edges of said array of panels with at least one of said beam members being parallel to at least one of said panels.
A post-free construction system comprising a plurality of panels assembled edgewise in a row, connecting means connecting the adjacent edges of adjacent panels for securing said panels in edge-to-edge assembled relationship, an overhead beam of a length approximately equal to the combined widths of said plurality of connected panels, and means connecting the opposite end portions of said beam and the opposite edges, respectively, of the assembly formed by said assembled panels with said beam disposed entirely above and extending over the upper edges of said assembled panels for maintaining said assembled panels in coplanar relationship by connection of said beam to the panels of said row of panels only at the opposite ends of said row.
In a modular panel including two outer wall surfaces and an edge between and joining such surfaces, such edge having a slot therein, an elongated connecting hook mounted in such slot and retractable from a position projecting outward from such slot beyond the panel edge to a position completely retracted into such slot inward of such panel edge, the improvement comprising the slotted panel edge further having a transverse notch extending the entire width of such edge from one panel outer wall surface to the other panel outer wall surface, intersecting such slot and opening through the opposite outer panel wall surfaces for exposing a portion of said connecting hook inward of and adjacent to such panel edge when said hook is in its retracted position so that it can be grasped manually and pulled from its retracted position to its projected position.
A freestanding, post-free modular building structure comprising an array of upright modular panels, panel-connecting means connecting adjacent edges of adjacent panels in said array, a beam member disposed entirely above and extending over the upper edge of at least one panel, and beam-and-panel connecting means connecting said beam member to at least two panels in said array only at the ends of said beam member.
A modular building structure comprising an array of upright modular panels, and panel-connecting means connecting adjacent edges of adjacent panels in said array, an edge of one of said panels having in it a slot, said panel-connecting means including a connecting hook having an elongated hook portion fittable in said panel edge slot and pivot means always located below said elongated hook portion and connecting said connecting hook and said one panel for swinging of said connecting hook to move said elongated hook portion to opposite sides of a vertical plane parallel and adjacent to the axis of said pivot means between a position retracted into said panel edge slot and a position projected out of said panel edge slot with said elongated hook portion projecting upward in cantilever fashion, the center of gravity of said connecting hook being located inwardly of the axis of said pivot means when said elongated hook portion is retracted into said panel edge slot and the center of gravity of said connecting hook being located outwardly of the axis of said pivot means when said elongated hook portion is in its projected position for maintaining said elongated hook portion selectively in such retracted and projected positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.