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US 8,539,732 B2Granted
Structural building panels with seamless corners
OwnerCharles H. Leahyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods providing a modular building having pre-fabricated panel wall components are easily assembled to form a predetermined structure including energy efficient corner modular components that provide for seamless, energy-efficient corners with structural strength.
Claims18
A modular building system for creating an energy-efficient structure comprising:
- a multiplicity of pre-fabricated unitary, integral single molded panel wall components, each of said pre-fabricated panel wall components having a face side and a back side and four edges including friction-based locking connector components for securely attaching the wall components together along the edges to form seams, each seam having a double tongue and groove configuration, each edge of the seam having a tongue and a groove;
- and
- wherein at least one of the unitary, integral single molded wall components includes and is integral with a modular seamless corner component that includes at least one corner angle wherein the wall components further include embedded mechanical locking components;
- wherein the friction-based locking unitary, integral single molded wall components include mating, dual-track alignment edges and each of the mechanical locking components includes a cam-based connector that extends between a first unlocked position and a second locked position, wherein the edges are first aligned by the mating, dual-track alignment seams when the cam-based connector is in the first position and then the connector is moved to the second position to lock the wall components together, thereby providing an energy efficient seam where the unitary, integral single molded wall components are connected, aligned, and locked together.
1 more element
A method for providing a modular building structure comprising the steps of:
- providing a containerized kit wherein the kit is sized and configured to be enclosed by a housing and includes therewithin a modular building system further comprising a predetermined number of unitary, integral single molded modular wall components with friction-based locking seams, each seam having a double tongue and groove configuration, each edge of the seam having a tongue and a groove;
- including unitary, integral single molded seamless modular corner components, a roof system, and at least one door;
- and
- providing instructions for assembling the modular building system for forming a complete building unit, including aligning the modular wall components along opposite edges via connectors to form stable, energy efficient seams when modular wall components are joined;
- wherein the wall components further include embedded mechanical locking components;
- and wherein friction-based locking unitary, integral single molded wall components include mating, dual-track alignment edges and the mechanical locking component includes a cam-based connector that extends between a first unlocked position and a second locked position, wherein the edges are first aligned by the mating, dual-track alignment seams when the cam-based connector is in the first position and then the connector is moved to the second position to lock the wall components together, thereby providing an energy efficient seam where the unitary, integral single molded wall components are connected, aligned, and locked together.
3 more elements
A system for a modular building comprising:
- structural prefabricated unitary, integral single molded wall panel components that are constructed and configured to be juxtapositioned, aligned, interconnected, and secured along their edges to form friction-based locking joints or seams, each seam having a double tongue and groove configuration, each edge of the seam having a tongue and a groove;
- wherein the wall components are assembled and secured in place by the joints without requiring additional locking mechanism;
- and
- wherein the wall components further include unitary, integral single molded seamless, modular corner components with at least two wall panels extending outwardly therefrom, thereby forming an energy efficient and stable modular building including energy efficient seams;
- wherein the wall components further include embedded mechanical locking components;
- and wherein the friction-based locking unitary, integral single molded wall components include mating, dual-track alignment edges and the mechanical locking component includes a cam-based connector that extends between a first unlocked position and a second locked position, wherein the edges are first aligned by the mating, dual-track alignment seams when the cam-based connector is in the first position and then the connector is moved to the second position to lock the wall components together, thereby providing an energy efficient seam where the unitary, integral single molded wall components are connected, aligned, and locked together.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.