U.S. patent application number 10/493477 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-09 for modular construction system.
Invention is credited to Raue, Kristian.
Application Number | 20040244309 10/493477 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7703860 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040244309 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Raue, Kristian |
December 9, 2004 |
Modular construction system
Abstract
A modular construction system comprises sheet-like elements (1).
The above comprise slots (2), the width of which is equal to or
slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet-like elements (1).
The slots (2) may be embodied as double slots. It is also possible
to add horizontal floor elements.
Inventors: |
Raue, Kristian; (Freiburg,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Kristian Raue
Wintererstr. 21
Freiburg Baden-Wurttemberg
7914
DE
|
Family ID: |
7703860 |
Appl. No.: |
10/493477 |
Filed: |
April 23, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
October 23, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DE02/03986 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/79.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 33/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/079.1 |
International
Class: |
E04H 006/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 26, 2001 |
DE |
101 52 979.1 |
Claims
1. A modular construction system with sheet-like elements (1),
characterised in that the sheet-like elements (1) have slots (2),
the width of which is equal to or slightly greater than the
thickness of the sheet-like elements (1).
2. The modular construction system of the preceding claim
characterised in that the sheet-like elements (1) are straight or
curved.
3. The modular construction system of claims 1 or 2 characterised
in that the slots (2) extend perpendicular to the longitudinal
direction of the sheet-like elements (1).
4. The modular construction system of claim 3 characterised in that
a slot (2) is provided at both ends of the sheet-like element (1)
on one longitudinal side.
5. The modular construction system of claim 4 characterised in that
a slot (2) is provided at both ends and on both longitudinal
sides.
6. The modular construction system of claim 4 or 5 characterised in
that a second matching slot (2) is provided next to slot (2).
7. The modular construction system of claim 1 or 2 characterised in
that slots (2) extend along a slope with respect to the
longitudinal direction of the sheet-like element (1).
8. The modular construction system of one of the preceding claims
characterised in that within the sheet-like element (1) there is a
slot (3) into which a second sheet-like element (1) is inserted
perpendicular to the surface of the first sheet-like element (1)
with slot (3).
9. The modular construction system of claim 8 characterised in that
slot (3) has a centre section in which the height of slot (3) is
equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet-like
element (1) to be inserted, and two adjacent sections in which the
height of slot (3) is double as big or slightly bigger than the
size of the sheet-like element (1) to be inserted, and two outer
sections in which the height of slot (3) is equal to or slightly
greater than the thickness of the sheet-like element (1) to be
inserted.
10. The modular construction system of claim 9 characterised in
that in slot (3) the centre section forms part of a lower
level.
11. The modular construction system of claim 8 or 9 characterised
in that the transition between the adjacent section and the outer
section takes the form of a slope.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a modular construction system
according to the preamble of claim 1, and the associated
construction parts.
[0002] Various forms of modular construction systems already exist.
One modular construction system envisages the use of sheet-like
elements. One of the problems associated with this lies in the
means used to connect the sheet-like elements to create the desired
construction.
[0003] Hence this invention is based on the task of creating a
modular construction system of the above-mentioned type with a
simple means of connecting the sheet-like elements.
[0004] The technical solution is characterised by the features in
the distinguishing section of claim 1.
[0005] The result is a modular construction system using sheet-like
elements which are very easy to put together. The basic principle
comprises a push-together system for assembling the sheet-like
elements. The slots in any one sheet-like element engage in the
corresponding slots in any second sheet-like element. With these
specially contrived, flat, sheet-like elements it is therefore
possible to create a construction set which permits the assembly of
a great variety of structures. The modular construction system can
be used for play purposes.
[0006] According to the development in claim 2, the sheet-like
elements are either straight or curved. This creates a building set
which can be used to assemble a great variety of structures.
[0007] The development according to claim 3 proposes a special
arrangement of the slots. As a general rule, the sheet-like
elements extend in a horizontal direction. Insofar as the slots
extend in a perpendicular direction, as in this development, the
construction can easily be built in a vertical direction.
[0008] To permit the use of the sheet-like elements for universal
constructions, a slot is provided at both ends of the sheet-like
element on one longitudinal side, in line with the development in
claim 4.
[0009] Insofar as slots are only provided on one longitudinal side
of the sheet-like elements, the latter may serve as the top and
final part of the construction. The development according to claim
5 proposes that a slot is provided at both ends and on both
longitudinal sides of the sheet-like elements. This permits the
assembly of constructions of any height.
[0010] A preferred development according to claim 6 proposes that a
second matching slot be provided adjacent to the slot. This creates
a double-slot system. The advantage of this is that it allows an
additional wall element to be attached adjacent to an existing wall
element by using the adjacent slot of the double-slot system for
the second wall. This allows the option of assembling very large
constructions.
[0011] As an alternative to a perpendicular arrangement of the
slots, the development according to claim 7 proposes the slots be
arranged in sloping fashion. This provides a means of creating
sloping surfaces, and, in particular, roofs in the construction of
buildings.
[0012] A preferred development of the modular construction system
of the invention proposes according to claim 8 that a slot be
contrived within the sheet-like element, into which a second
sheet-like element can be inserted at right angles to the
sheet-like element with the slot. This creates the additional
option of providing constructions with floor elements. It is not
necessary, however, to provide all the sheet-like elements of this
construction with such a slot, but only those sheet-like elements
located in the area of the floor under construction. These slots
are preferably located in the centre of the sheet-like element,
i.e. the slot defines a kind of opening in the sheet-like element.
This height of this slot is either equal to or slightly greater
than the thickness of the sheet-like element to be inserted. This
provides, in a technically simple way, an all-purpose construction
for creating floors.
[0013] The development according to claim 9 proposes a specific
technical realisation. The basic idea consists of arranging two
floor elements next to each other and positioning a supporting
floor element underneath and to the centre of the latter two floor
elements. All that is required, however, is to start by inserting
the first floor element towards the centre and then move its
crosswise onto the upper level. Exactly the same thing happens on
the other side with the second floor element. It, too, is then
located on the upper level. Finally, a third floor element is
inserted, by way of support, into the centre section and hence into
the lower level.
[0014] The fact that the central floor supporting element lies
underneath the actual floor elements is the object of the
development in claim 10.
[0015] The advantage of the development according to claim 11 is
that it allows the floor elements to be easily moved from the lower
level to the upper level.
[0016] An example of an embodiment of a modular construction system
according to the invention will be described below with reference
to the drawings, which show:
[0017] FIG. 1 to 6 various sheet-like elements for the modular
construction system;
[0018] FIG. 7 a construction assembled from the sheet-like
elements;
[0019] FIG. 8 the construction of FIG. 7 at a later stage of
building;
[0020] FIG. 9 the view after inserting an intermediate floor;
[0021] FIG. 10a to 10e various stages involved in inserting the
intermediate floor in FIG. 9.
[0022] FIGS. 1 to 6 show various embodiments of sheet-like elements
1.
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a sheet-like element 1 in the shape of an
elongated rectangle, with slots in the form of double slots
contrived in the four corner portions in the longitudinal sides.
FIG. 2 shows a similar sheet-like element 1, with slots 2 contrived
as individual slots. FIG. 3 shows the sheet-like element 1 of FIG.
1, although it is only half the height. Furthermore--as can be seen
in FIG. 3--only one longitudinal side is provided with the
above-described double slots. FIG. 4 shows the sheet-like element 1
with single slots similar to the sheet-like element in FIG. 2. FIG.
5 shows the sheet-like element 1 of FIG. 1, but with an additional
horizontal slot 3 which will be explained in more detail below.
Finally, FIG. 6 shows a construction part with sloping slots 2
contrived in its top area.
[0024] FIG. 7 shows a construction assembled out of the previously
described sheet-like elements 1. The basic principle is that two
sheet-like elements 1 to be connected with each other engage with
each other by means of their slots 2. When using the double-slot
system of FIG. 1, wide walls can be created--as shown--by using the
second slot 2 of the double slot for the connecting wall. FIG. 8
shows the assembled structure at another stage, especially when
roof elements are added as well using the sheet-like elements 1 of
FIG. 6.
[0025] FIGS. 9 and 10 show the system when a horizontal floor is
also added. This is done using the sheet-like elements 1 of FIG. 5.
The horizontal slot 3 in sheet-like element 1 of FIG. 5 is divided
into different sections. In the middle section, slot 3 is equal to
or slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet-like element 1
to be inserted into it. Adjacent to this, moving towards the
outside, there is a section of which the height is equal to or
slightly greater than the double thickness of the sheet-like
element 1 to be inserted into it. Finally, right at the outside,
there is a section of which the thickness is again equal to or
slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet-like element to be
inserted into it. The bottom edge of slot 2 runs into the outside
section via a slope 4 which rises upwards as it points outwards.
Overall, slot 3 defines a system with two levels.
[0026] The floor functions as follows:
[0027] Whilst FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the finished
floor, FIGS. 10a to e show the sequence in which the individual
floor elements are added. In FIG. 10a, a sheet-like element 1 such
as the one shown in FIG. 2 is inserted. It is inserted into the
centre section of slot 3 until slot 2 of the inserted sheet-like
element 1 is at the same level as slot 3. This ensures that the
sheet-like element 1 can be moved towards the left, as shown in
FIG. 10b. The inside gap between adjacent slots 2 is such that the
entire sheet-like element 1 can be moved up to the upper level. A
second sheet-like element 1 is then inserted into the centre
section in the same way, as shown in FIG. 10c and subsequently
moved to the right as illustrated in FIG. 10d. This second
sheet-like element 1 is then also located on the upper level.
Finally, a third sheet-like element 1 is inserted, again into the
centre section, as shown in FIG. 10e. This serves as a support for
the first two sheet-like elements 1.
[0028] Reference Numerals
[0029] 1 sheet-like element
[0030] 2 slot
[0031] 3 slot
[0032] slope
* * * * *