GB2209548A - Building unit with polygonal floor - Google Patents

Abstract

A building unit comprises a regular polygonal floor formed from a plurality of floor pieces arranged radially about, and engaged with, a core section. At the floor segments' outer edges are provided spigots 22, 24 which locate in brackets 38 arranged at a lower end of a roof support member 42. The support members 42 are each formed of two pillars 44, 46 square in cross section and each provided with a groove or slot 40, 50 for engagement of side panels or roller blinds (not shown). The upper end of each roof support member 42 engages with eave ties 60 which connect adjacently disposed support members. Roof ribs 76 also engage with the support member's upper end and project radially inwards to engage with a roof crown (not shown). The roof sections defined between adjacent ribs 76 can be filled by a rigid roof panel (not shown) or a flexible covering to provide a roof. The support member 76 also carries mounting plates 58, 60 for attachment of roller blinds. <IMAGE>

Description

BUILDING UNI' This invention relates to a building unit especially a building unit which is easily portable and intended primarily for use as a leisure building suitable for all weather use.

It is known to provide temporary or prefabricated structures for use as, for example, leisure buildings or other similar purposes. Where temporary or portable buildings are used it is usually necessary to anchor the building physically to the ground on which it stands in order to provide the required structural integrity. This is especially true where the building has open sides or side walls which can be removed leaving the roof to be supported by posts or other similar supports.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a building unit which can be disassembled for transportation and does not require anchoring to a ground surface to ensure structural integrity.

With this object in view the present invention provides a building unit including a floor and a roof supported over the floor by a plurality of roof support members, characterised in that the floor comprises at least two floor segments placed adjacently of each other and held together centrally by a core section and peripherally by a plurality of engagement means slideably engageable in a horizontal plane and each of which serves to carry one roof support member, the roof being formed of two or more roof sections engaging peripherally with the roof support members and centrally with a roof crown section.Preferably each floor segment is provided with locating means disposed on one edge of the floor segment and which project inwardly so as to allow a respective floor segment to engage with reception means carried on the core section, each floor segment being shaped so as co-operate with adjacent floor segments to surround the core section, each floor segment being further provided with two respective spigots on its outer edge and projecting outwardly therefrom, each spigot engaging in co-operation with a respective spigot on an adjacent floor segment, with one of a plurality of hollow brackets thereby securing adjacent floor segments together, each of said hollow brackets being provided with a substantially vertical respective roof support member, the upper end of each roof support member having a roof engaging bracket such that the support members are operative to support the roof over the floor, the roof being carried by a plurality of roof ribs defining roof sections each section generally corresponding in shape and size to each of the floor segments and the ribs being secured to each oiler cntrnll.y by a roof crown sections.

Advantageously the core section is a polygon having at least three sides of equal length and each floor segment is generally trapezoidal in shape having one short side corresponding in length to one side of the core section, the other three sides being shaped so as to cause adjacent floor segments to abut each other when the short side of each segment is positioned against one respective side of the central core section which is of corresponding length.

Preferably tile reception ealls are brackets located one at each corner of the polygonal core section and the locating means are pegs provided at each end of the short side of each floor segment such that locating pegs of adjacent floor segments locate in one of said reception brackets.

The trapezoidal segments are each preferably of a sheet material supported by a framework, two sides of the framework being extended at the shorter parallel side of the segment to provide the locating pegs. The longer parallel side advantageously has the corners cut away to expose the framework thus providing a recess accommodating the spigot for engaging with the hollow bracket, spigots from adjacent floor segments locating within one such bracket.

Advantageously the reception means are a plurality of upstanding pegs, one peg being provided for each floor segment, disposed about the core section's centre point and each floor segment is substantially triangular in shape and is disposed about the core section's centre point with each peg locating in one corresponding corner of a floor segment.

Preferably the hollow brackets are each formed integrally at one end of a respective roof support member.

Alternatively each hollow bracket is provided with locating means, preferably in the form of pin, which engages with one lower end of a roof support member to secure it in a substantially vertical disposition.

Advantageously the upper end of each roof support member is provided with means for engaging with a plurality of eave ties which serve to connect together the upper ends of the plurality of support members.

Furthermore the upper end of each support member is preferably provided with a housing for receiving one end each of two roller blind or shutter arrangements, the other end of each being received by adjacently disposed support members. The blind or shutter thus disposed may be unrolled as desired to provide a wall between the support members.

Preferably side panels are provided for attachment between the roof support members which are advantageously provided with grooves to receive the side panels.

Advantageously the roof sections are secured together by a ridge cup which is slideably engageable with each adjacent roof section.

Preferably the hollow bracket is L-shaped with one leg engaging with the spigots on the floor sections and the other, substantially vertical, leg engaging with one roof support member. The leg engaging with the spigots may be U-shaped in cross-section to facilitate assembly of the components.

Advantageously the roof sections are of framed metal or fibreglass sheeting with internal pins at each respective lower end for locating in sockets provided in the upper end of each roof support member. Where flexible roof sections are provided they may be of textile or plastics sheeting.

Preferably the floor segments are of sheet or slatted timber with a timber framework. The roof support members are advantageously of metal, wood or plastics and formed of two adjacent pillars each preferably being square in cross-section.

Advantageously the L-shaped braket is shaped so as to accept spigots from more than two floor segments to allow the locating of additional units adjacent to the first such unit.

The invention will be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of a preferred embodiment of a building unit according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a floor according to the preferred embodiment; Fig. 3 is a part plan view to an enlarged scale illustratiiig the engagement of a plurality of floor segments with a core section; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a bracket and support member assembly according to the invention; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the upper end of the assembly illustrated in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a roof crown section according to the invention; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view generally similar to Fig. 4 illustrating an alternative support member and bracket assembly.

In the drawings a preferred embodiment of a building unit according to the invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 and is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10. The unit 10 is formed of a floor 12, a plurality of roof support members 14 and a roof 16 supported on the support members 14. In the preferred embodiment there are eight roof support members 14 each located at one corner of the floor 12 which is octagonal in shape. The floor 12 could be any regular polygon in shape such as triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal etc. In each case one roof support member 14 would be provided for each corner of the floor 12.

Fig. 2 illustrates the floor 12 in greater detail whereby it can be seen that it is formed from eight floor segments 18, each identical in configuration.

Each of the floor segments 18 is substantially triangular in shape having two sides of equal length and this would be so for any shape of floor 12 although the angles and lengths of the sides would be different from the preferred embodiment. Each segment 18 is preferably of sheet or slatted timber supported by a timber framework 20. The sheet or slatted timber surface is cut away from the supporting framework 20 at each corner, and the framework 20 is shaped so as to provide two outwardly projecting spigots 22, 24 and one exposed angle 26 for each segment 18.

The floor segments 18 are disposed adjacent to one another with their respective exposed angles 26 innermost and the spigots 22, 24 on the respective outer edge. The floor segments 18 are secured together at the centre of the floor 12 by a central core section 28.

Said core section 28 has a number of upstanding pegs 30, disposed about the core sections centre 32, one peg 30 being provided for each floor segment 18 (see Fig. 3).

These pegs 30 locate in the exposed corner 26 of each respective floor segment thereby rigidly holding them together. The core section 28 is also provided with a centrally located bolt 32 having a screw threaded portion. A circular plate 34 having a central locating hole can thus be placed on the bolt 32 and secured in place by a locking nut 36. This ensures that the floor segments 18 cannot be lifted out of engagement with their respective pegs 30.

The floor segments outer ends are secured together by brackets provided on eight roof support members one of which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 4. The spigots 22, 24 of adjacent floor segments locate in a bracket 38 attached to a baseplate 40. Upstanding from the bracket 38 is a roof support member 42 formed of two pillars 44, 46 each being of hollow square cross section and preferably of metal. The two pillars 44, 46 are set at an angle to each other of approximately 45" such that one pillar is aligned with one respective pillar of a further bracket disposed on an adjacent pair of spigots.

This angle will vary, of course, according to the number of floor segments 18'of which the floor 12 is formed.

Each pillar 44, 46 has a respective slot 48, 50 provided in one face thereof and extending along the full height of each of said pillars 44, 46.

At each pillars 44, 46 upper end there is provided means for engaging the roof 16 of the building unit 10.

The means takes the form of two hollow members 54, 56 of generally rectangular or square cross section disposed eccentrically on each of the two pillars 44, 46. The two members 54, 56 are in contact with one another at one corner and diverge thereafter at an angle equal to that between the two pillars 44, 46. Two mounting plates 58, 60 extend one from each of the two members 54, 56 being substantially perpendicular respectively thereto and to the respective supporting pillars 44, 46.

A spacer plate 62 is provided between the two members 54, 56 forming a triangular notch 64 therebetween (see Fig. 5).

Adjacent pairs of roof support members 42 are secured together by an eave tie 66 provided at each of its ends with a respective peg 68. The pegs 68 are each adapted to locate within the hollow members 54, 56 such that adjacent support members 42 are thereby connected.

A roller blind 70 is provided between each pair of opposed mounting plates 58, 60. The roller 70 is rotatable about an axle 72 which is carried at each end by said mounting plates 58, 60. A blind 74 which is wound around the roller 70 is constrained by the slots 48, 50, provided in opposed adjacent pillars, to be unfurled in a vertical direction thus permitting the provision of a wall or weathershield between support members 42 when desired. One roller blind 70 may be provided between adjacent support members 42 thus requiring eight such roller blinds 70. Alternatively fewer blinds 70 may be provided and are placed as block the effects of a wind or other inclement weather condition. In this respect only four roller blinds 70 need be provided.

The roof 16 which is carried on the support members 42 is formed of eight roof ribs 76 radiating from a roof crown section 78 (see Fig. 6). The crown section 78 is generally ring shaped and is provided with a plurality, eight, of rib sockets 80 into which the ribs 76 are engaged. The crown section 78 also includes a vent 82 having a conically shaped roof surface 84 and mounted on a threaded shaft 86. The shaft 86 is rotatable by means of a handle 88, disposed below the crown section 78, and the shaft 86 is journalled in the crown section 78 such that rotation thereof will cause the raising and/or lowering of the vent 82 with respect to the crown 78.

The roof ribs 76 are each provided at their free end with a locating pin 90 which is locatable in the triangular notch 64 provided at the upper end of each of the roof support members 42. The roof ribs 76 carry either a flexible roof covering (not shown), of for example plastics or canvas, which is provided with sleeves through which the ribs 76 are threaded and thereby provide the necessary support, or a plurality of rigid roof panels (not shown) each substantially corresponding in shape to a floor segment 18. For a rigid type roof 16 the roof ribs 76 would be substantial of I cross section allowing the individual roof segments to be slideably engaged therewith and locking caps provided to secure the open ends.

Fig. 7 illustrates an alternative bracket 92 for securing the spigots 22, 24 on adjacent floor segments 18. The bracket 92 comprises a base plate 94 to which is attached an open , l -shaped bracket 96 into which the spigots 22, 24 are engageable. On the bracket's upper surface is provided a square peg 98 having a bolt hole 100 therethrough. A sheath 102 is provided which is slideably disposable over the peg 98 and which is also provided with bolt holes 104, 106. These holes 104, 106 are aligned with the hole 100 in the peg 98 when the sheath 102 is placed over said peg 98. The sheath 102 is attached to two pillars 44, 46 which together form one roof support member 42. The sheath 102 is secured to the peg 98 by a bolt or pin (not shown) inserted through the holes provided in the sheath 102 and the peg 98.

Assembly of the building unit 10 according to the invention is as follows. Firstly the site chosen for the building 10 must be level or levelled by the use of packing in order to prevent deformation of the floor 12.

First the core section 28 is placed centrally of the desired building location with its pegs 30 projecting upwardly. The eight floor segments 18 are each then placed over the pegs 30 so as to radiate around the central locking bolt 32. The circular plate is placed over the bolt and held in position by the locking nut 36 so as to hold the floor 12 rigid.

The hollow brackets 38 or 92 are then slideably engaged with the exposed pairs of spigots 22, 24 to anchor the outer ends of the floor segments 18. If necessary the support members 42 are now located on the pegs 98 provided on the brackets 92. The eave ties 66 are now positioned in the open ends of the hollow markers 54, 56, provided on the support members 42, to connect the support members 42 upper ends together.

The roof 16 is now partially assembled by engaging the crown 78 with two roof ribs 76 diametrically opposed to one another. If a flexible roof is being used the ribs 76 should first be threaded through the sleeves provided for that purpose. The two roof ribs 76 should now be engaged, by way of the locating pin 90, with the notch 64 formed in the support members 42. The remaining ribs 76 are now engaged firstly with the crown section 78, the flexible roof (if used) and then the support members 42. If a rigid roof is being used the appropriate number of roof panels should now be slideably positioned between the ribs 76 and the end caps placed to secure the panels in position. Finally the roller blinds 70 are located between opposed pairs of mounting plates 58, 60. Dismantling is accomplished in reverse.

It will be appreciated that this form of construction provides a rigid structure in which the roof is supported solely by the peripheral roof support members which are in turn secured to the floor. The floor's own weight as well as, to a minor extent, the weight of the roof bearing down on the support members, ensures that they cannot be easily disengaged therefrom.

It is not therefore necessary to anchor the floor or the support members to the ground on which the unit stands in order to provide the required structural integrity.

It is possible to join two such building units together by engaging spigots of an adjacent unit into one support member's bracket or by simply placing the units adjacent to one another and clamping the floor segments together.

Modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, the roller blinds could be omitted or replaced by rigid panels slotted into the support members. The floor can be any desired regular polygon in shape and if interlinking units are desired then a hexagonal shaped floor is probably desirable.

The central core section may be any desirable shape and the means for engaging the floor segments therewith need not be as described. It is to be understood that the number of floor segments, roof segments and roof support members may be varied according to the shape of the floor. The support members may be formed as a single pillar or post and could be integral with the floor engaging bracket or could engage therewith in any suitable manner. Furthermore the support members may be formed from a plurality of pillars or posts which may be of other then square cross-section. For example, the support member could consist of a single cylindrical pillar having two C-shaped guides longitudinally mounted thereon for engagement with weathershields or roller blinds. The cylindrical pillar's upper end would be provided with engagement means for attachment of the roof ribs and the eave ties. Alternatively the support members could be formed of two triangular cross-section pillars each having one corner open to provide a slot for engagement with the blinds or shields. The roller blinds or weathershields could be carried by the eave ties which could be provided with mounting plates for such a purpose.

Claims (4)

1. A building unit including a floor and a roof supported over the floor by a plurality of roof support members, characterised in that the floor comprises at least two floor segments placed adjacently of each other and held together centrally by a core section and peripherally by a plurality of engagement means slideably engageable in a horizontal plane and each of which serves to carry one roof support member, the roof being formed of two or more roof sections engaging peripherally with the roof support members and centrally with a roof crown section.

2. A building unit as claimed in claim 1 in which each floor segment is provided with locating means disposed on one edge of the floor segment and which project inwardly so as to allow a respective floor segment to engage with reception means carried on the core section, each flor segment being shaped so as to co-operate with adjacent floor segments to surround the core section, each floor segment being further provided with two respective spigots on its outer edge and projecting outwardly therefrom, each spigot engaging, in cooperation with a respective spigot on an adjacent floor segment, with one of a plurality of hollow brackets thereby securing adjacent floor segments together, each of said hollow brackets being provided with a substantially vertical respective roof support member, the upper end of each roof support member having a roof engaging bracket such that the support members are operative to support the roof over the floor, the rood being carried by a plurality of rood ribs defining roof sections, each section generally corresponding in shape and size to each of the floor segments and the ribs being secured to each other centrally by a roof crown section.

3. A building unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the core section is a polygon having at least three sides of equal length and each floor segment is generally trapezoidal in shape having one short side corresponding in length to one side of the core section, the other three sides being shaped so as to cause adjacent floor segments to abut each other when the short side of each segment is positioned against one respective side of the central core section which is of corresponding length.

4. A building unit as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the reception means are brackets located one at each corner of the polygonal core section and the locating means are pegs provided at each end of the short side of each floor segment such that locating pegs of adjacent floor segments locate in one of said reception brackets.

4. A building unit as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the reception means are brackets located one at each corner of the polygonal core section and the locating means are pegs provided at each end of the short side of each floor segment such that locating pegs of adjacent floor segments locate in one of said reception brackets.

5. A building unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein the trapezoidal segments are each of a sheet material supported by a framework, two sides of the framework being extended at the shorter parallel side of the segment to provide the locating pegs.

6. A building unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein the longer parallel side has the corners cut away to expose the framework thus providing a recess accommodating the spigot for engaging with the hollow bracket, spigots from adjacent floor segments locating within one such bracket.

7. A building unit as claimed in claim 2q wherein the reception means are a plurality of upstanding pegs, one peg being provided for each floor segment, disposed about the core section's centre point and each floor segment is substantially triangular in shape and is disposed about the.core section's centre point with each peg locating in one corresponding corner of a floor segment.

8. A building unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the hollow brackets are each formed integrally at one end of a respective roof support member.

9. A building unit as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7, wherein each hollow bracket is provided with locating means which engages with one lower end of a roof support member to secure it in a substantially vertical disposition.

10. A building unit as claimed in claim 9 in which the locating means is a pin.

11. A building unit as claimed in any preceding claim in which the upper end of each roof support member is provided with means for engaging with a pluraltiy of eave ties which serve to connect together the upper ends of the plurality of support members.

12. A building unit as claimed in any preceding claim in which the upper end of each support member is provided with a housing for receiving one end each of two roller blind or shutter arrangements, the other end of each being received by adjacently disposed support members.

13. A building unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11 in which side panels are provided for attachment between the roof support members.

14. A building unit as claimed in claims 12 or 13 wherein the roof support members are provided with grooves.

15. A building unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the roof is formed of a plurality of roof panels located between adjacent ribs.

16. A building unit as claimed in claim 15 wherein the roof sections are slideably engageable with each adjacent rib.

17. A building unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the hollow bracket is L-shaped with one leg engaging with the spigots on the floor sections and the other, substantially vertical leg engaging with one roof support member.

18. A building unit as claimed in claim 17 wherein the leg engaging with the spigots is U-shaped in crosssection to facilitate assembly of the components.

19. A building unit as claimed in claim 17 or 18 in which the L-shaped bracket is shaped so as to accept spigots from more than two floor segments to allow the location of additional building units adjacent to the first such unit.

20. A building unit as claimed in claim 15 or 16 in which the roof sections are of framed metal or fibreglass sheeting with integral pins at each respective lower end for locating in sockets provided in the upper end of each roof support member.

21. A building unit as claimed in any preceding claim in which the roof support members are each formed of two adjacent pillars each being square in cross-section.

22. A building unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. A building unit including a floor and a roof supported over the floor by a plurality of roof support members characterised in that the floor comprises at least two floor segments placed adjacently of each other and held together centrally by a core section and each segment being provided on its outer edge with two respective spigots projecting outwardly therefrom, each spigot slideably engaging in co-operation with a respective spigot on an adjacent floor segment with one of a plurality of hollow brackets thereby securing adjacent floor segments together, each of said hollow brackets serving to carry one roof support member, the roof being formed of two or more roof sections engaging peripherally with the roof support members and centrally with a roof crown section.

2. A building unit as claimed in claim 1 in which each floor segment is provided with locating means disposed on one edge of the floor segment and which project inwardly so as to allow a respective floor segment to engage with reception means carried on the core section, each floor segment being shaped so as to co-operate with adjacent floor segments to surround the core section, each of said hollow brackets being provided with a substantially vertical respective roof support member, the upper end of each roof support member having a roof engaging bracket such that the support members are operative to support the roof over the floor, the roof being carried by a plurality of roof ribs defining roof sections, each section generally corresponding in shape and size to each of the floor segments and the ribs being secured to each other centrally by a roof crown section.

3. A building unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the core section is a polygon having at least three sides of equal length and each floor segment is generally trapezoidal in shape having one short side corresponding in length to one side of the core section, the other three sides being shaped so as to cause adjacent floor segments to abut each other when the short side of each segment is positioned against one respective side of the central core section which is of corresponding length.