U.S. patent application number 10/808984 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-30 for prefabricated building system.
This patent application is currently assigned to France Couture. Invention is credited to Brochu, Jacques.
Application Number | 20040187414 10/808984 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32968294 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040187414 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brochu, Jacques |
September 30, 2004 |
Prefabricated building system
Abstract
A building structure having a plurality of base members each
having an inwardly facing opening, the base members defining a
perimeter of the building structure, a concrete base which has
portions thereof extending through the openings in the base members
to thereby anchor the base members, a plurality of studs extending
upwardly from the base member to a form wall sections, a plurality
rafters extending between opposed wall sections, and a roof mounted
on the rafters. The building structure is rigid and resistant to
elements such as high winds.
Inventors: |
Brochu, Jacques;
(Sherbrooke, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Eric Fincham
316 Knowlton Road
Lac Brome
QC
J0E 1V0
CA
|
Assignee: |
France Couture
|
Family ID: |
32968294 |
Appl. No.: |
10/808984 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/272 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 2001/249 20130101;
E04B 2001/2457 20130101; E04B 2001/2451 20130101; E04B 2001/2484
20130101; E04B 2001/2481 20130101; E04H 6/02 20130101; E04B
2001/2463 20130101; E04B 2001/2448 20130101; E04B 2001/2415
20130101; E04H 1/1205 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/272 |
International
Class: |
E04B 007/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 24, 2003 |
CA |
2,423,353 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A building structure comprising: a plurality of base members
each having an inwardly facing opening, said base members extending
about a perimeter of the building structure; a concrete base having
portions thereof extending through said openings in said base
members to thereby anchor said base members; a plurality of studs
extending upwardly from the said base member to form a plurality of
wall sections; a plurality of rafters extending between a first
opposed pair of said wall sections; and a roof mounted on said
rafters.
2. The building structure of claim 1 wherein each of said base
members comprises an outwardly facing sidewall, an inwardly
extending top wall, an inwardly extending bottom wall, and flanges
located at the distal end of each said top wall and bottom wall,
said flanges extending into said, concrete base to there by anchor
said base members to said concrete base.
3. The building structure of claim 1 further including a plurality
of laterally extending reinforcing members, said laterally
extending reinforcing members extending between and enter
connecting said studs.
4. The building structure of claim 1 further including a plurality
of rafter connecters, each rafter connecter having a generally
U-shaped cross sectional configuration.
5. The building structure of claim 1 further including a
reinforcing mesh imbedded in said concrete base.
6. A kit for a building structure, said kit comprising a plurality
of a base members each having a generally C-shaped configuration; a
plurality of metallic studs; a plurality of rafters; a plurality of
rafter connecters, each of said rafter connecters being a sheet
metal member having slots formed therein to permit folding thereof;
a plurality of rafter retainer members, said rafter retainer
members comprising a sheet metal component having slots formed
therein to permit bending of said member to form a substantially
U-shaped component.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to building structures, and
more particularly, relates to a building structure system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The use of prefabricated building structures for such
commonly used buildings as sheds, garages, utility buildings, etc
is well known in the art. Generally, such prefabricated structures
have been formed of wood and usually comprise wall sections which
are prefabricated and then later assembled on site. Similarly, the
floor is usually a preassembled structure often built in two or
more sections which are later joined together. Subsequently, a roof
is built on site.
[0003] A problem with many such structures is that they are placed
on blocks which remain on the ground. During changes in the seasons
and particularly in cold climates, the surface on which the
structure is placed moves and accordingly will cause movement in
the structure. It then frequently becomes necessary to adjust the
supports in order to maintain a level structure.
[0004] A further problem associated with such building structures
is that due to the supporting blocks and the inherent depth of the
floor joists, the structure is raised from the ground. Accordingly,
a stair structure or a ramp must be built to gain access and the
space below the structure can become unattractive with unwanted
animals or the like seeking refuge there.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
building assembly which is easy to assemble and comes in a compact
knocked down form.
[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there
is provided a building structure comprising a plurality of base
members each having an inwardly facing opening, the base members
extending about a perimeter of the building structure, a concrete
base having portions thereof extending through the openings in the
base members to thereby anchor the base members, a plurality of
studs extending upwardly from the base member to form a plurality
of wall sections, a plurality of rafters extending between a first
opposed pair of the wall sections, and a roof mounted on the
rafters.
[0007] In a further aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a kit for building structure, the kit comprising a
plurality of a base members each having a generally C-shaped
configuration, a plurality of metallic studs, a plurality of
rafters, a plurality of rafter connecters, each of the rafter
connecters being a sheet metal member having slots formed therein
to permit folding thereof, a plurality of rafter retainer members,
the rafter retainer members comprising a sheet metal component
having slots formed therein to permit bending of the member to form
a substantially U-shaped component.
[0008] The building structure of the present invention is, in the
preferred embodiment, comprised of metal structural components. As
such, the metal structural components provide an ease of assembly
and give a solid building structure.
[0009] One advantage of the preferred embodiment of the building
structure of the present invention is the integration of a concrete
floor which not only serves as the floor itself, but locks the
structural components together. In this arrangement, the building
structure may be placed directly on a suitably prepared substrate
and thus obviates the need for stairs or ramps. Such structure will
also ensure that problems will not be encountered during high winds
and the like. To further stabilize the structure, conventional
anchors into the soil substrate may be provided.
[0010] In the preferred embodiment, the structure may be shipped as
a kit in a knocked down arrangement. To do so, many of the
components which would normally occupy a substantial amount of
shipping space may be shipped as flat sheet metal members and
formed on the site. To this end, such components may be provided
with slots cut out along intended fold lines.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Having thus generally described the invention, reference
will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an
embodiment thereof, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled utility
building according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof illustrating the
building structure in a semi finished condition;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded view illustrating the structural
components of the building system of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a portion of the
structural components; and
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the metallic
components; and
[0017] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view through a lower portion of
the building structure after completion of the floor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference
characters thereto, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a building
structure according to one embodiment of the present invention
which building structure is designated generally by reference
numeral 10.
[0019] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the various structural
components utilized in the building structure of the present
invention and reference will now be had thereto.
[0020] At the bottom of the structure, there is provided a base
perimeter member generally designated by referenced numeral 12 and
which has a vertical outer wall 14, a top wall 16, and a bottom
wall 18. Base perimeter member 12 thus has a generally C-shaped
configuration with a pair of inwardly extending flanges 20, 22
located at the distal end of top wall 16 and bottom wall 18
respectively.
[0021] Mounted on top of base perimeter 12 is a bottom cap
generally designated by reference numeral 24 and which includes an
outer wall 26, a bottom wall 28, and a flange 30 extending upwardly
from the distal end of bottom wall 28.
[0022] Arranged to fit within bottom cap 24 and secured thereto are
vertical studs generally designated by reference numeral 32. Again,
each vertical stud 32 has an overall C-shaped configuration with a
back wall 34 and a pair of side walls 36, 38.
[0023] Mounted on top of studs 32 is a top cap 40 which also has an
outer wall 42, a top wall 44 and a downwardly extending flange
46.
[0024] A finishing member designated by reference numeral 48 is
provided which member also has a generally C-shaped configuration
defined by an outer wall 50, a bottom wall 52, and a slightly
sloping top wall 54.
[0025] A plurality of rafters 56 of a generally rectangular
configuration are utilized for the roof structure and at the end of
each rafter there is provided a rafter retainer generally
designated by reference numeral 58 and which rafter retainer has a
pair of opposed side walls 60 and 62 and an end wall 64. Flanges 66
and 68 extend outwardly from side walls 60 and 62 respectively at
the bottom or lower ends thereof.
[0026] Located centrally of rafters 56 and for connecting the
rafters together, is a rafter connector 72 which has apertures 74
therein. Rafter connector 72 is of a generally U-shaped
configuration having side walls 71 and 73 with a base 75.
[0027] There is also provided a ridge cap 76 and which has an
inverted V-shaped top wall 78 and downwardly extending side walls
80, 82. It will be noted that recesses 84 are provided in
downwardly extending side walls 80, 82 to accommodate rafters
56.
[0028] The system for the building structure also utilizes
laterally extending reinforcing members 88 which, as may be seen
from FIG. 2, extend between studs 32 at about their midpoint.
[0029] As may be seen in FIG. 3, there are provided stud members 90
which are finished with an end cap 92.
[0030] Following assembly of the structural components ground
anchors 93 may be secured. Screws 75 may then secure base member 12
to concrete C. A reinforcing mesh 94 is then placed intermediate
top wall 16 and bottom wall 18 of base perimeter member 12 and
concrete is then poured. As will be seen in FIG. 6, the concrete
enters into the channel defined by top wall 16 and bottom wall 18
of base perimeter member 12 and flanges 20 and 22 are imbedded
therein. This arrangement provides for an extremely solid
arrangement wherein the structure is securely anchored to the
concrete floor.
[0031] The building may be finished in a conventional manner with
any desired wall panels 98 and a roof 100. Doors 102 may be
provided for gaining access thereto. As will be seen from the
above, there is thus provided a strong rigid structure which is
able to withstand the elements.
[0032] As previously discussed, the building structure of the
present invention is preferably made in a kit form and to this end,
many of the components can be shipped in an unassembled state and
formed at the site. Thus, for example, one may refer to FIG. 5
illustrating a rafter connecter 72. Rafter connecter 72 is shipped
in a flat state and then bent along fold lines 106 and 108. Fold
lines 106 and 108 are formed by the removal of material therein by
means of slots 110 which permit the easy folding operation to
become a U-shaped component as indicated by arrow 112.
[0033] In the preferred embodiment, the above defined structural
components are all formed of a stamped metallic material and one
thus has a structure which is resistant to many of the problems
which plague wood type structures. The various components may all
be connected together by means of metal screws and thus, even an
amateur can assemble the components together quickly when utilizing
an electric screwdriver or the like. The assembly time compared to
comparable wood structures is substantially reduced.
[0034] It will be understood that the above described embodiment is
for purposes of illustration only and that changes or modifications
may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention.
* * * * *