WO2008143496A1

WO2008143496A1 - Room unit, building comprising such a room unit, use of such a room unit as well as method of building a hotel

Info

Publication number: WO2008143496A1
Application number: PCT/NL2007/050243
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kul Rattan Chadha; Izaak Carel Van Houte
Original assignee: OSIB IP Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: OSIB IP Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2007-05-23
Filing date: 2007-05-23
Publication date: 2008-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2009-11-23

Abstract

The invention relates to a room unit defined by: a floor; a ceiling; two opposing longitudinal side walls; and two opposing end walls. The floor, ceiling, two opposing longitudinal side walls and two opposing end walls are assembled to form a modular unit. The first of the end walls is a facade wall part with a window. The second of the end walls is provided with a room door. The room unit is further provided with: an installation shaft extending through the room unit; and one or more local mains from the type consisting of: energy wiring, signal wiring, water system, heating system, cooling system and/or ventilation system. The one or more local mains are connected to the installation shaft.

Description

ROOM UNIT , BUILDING COMPRISING SUCH A ROOM UNIT, USE OF SUCH A ROOM UNIT AS WELL AS METHOD OF BUILDING A HOTEL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of building constructions. The present invention relates to a room unit for use in building constructions as well as to a building comprising a plurality of such room units. A room unit according to the invention is, in general terms, defined by a floor, a ceiling, two opposing longitudinal side walls and two opposing end walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pre-fabricated building units for constructing a building are known. NL-93.01136 describes as prior art that it is known to construct temporary buildings by placing several pre-fabricated containers next to each other and on top of each other. Such containers are block shaped and comprise a floor, a ceiling and four side walls. NL- 93.01136 itself relates to a pre-fabricated building unit consisting of a floor and ceiling supported by columns onto the floor, but not having any vertical walls. Several such building units can be placed next to each other to form large rooms as well as on top of each other.

The use of pre-fabricated building units results in savings in time and building activities on the building site (also called in situ). The pre-fabricated building units can be made in a factory and subsequently be transported to the building site by trucks. Pre- fabrication of building units in a factory has the advantage that the influence of the weather on the building time can be reduced and that in a factory all tools and labour is available at any time. After assembling together the building units in situ, the outer walls of the building, the internal mains (electricity, water, heating, ventilation etc) of the building and other building activities are taken care of. This still requires substantial building time and is cost ineffective. The present invention has the object to provide a modular building unit, which allows a more cost and time effective construction of buildings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention the above object is achieved by providing a room unit (according to claim 1), wherein the room unit is defined by:

• a floor;

• a ceiling; • two opposing longitudinal side walls;

• two opposing end walls; wherein the floor, ceiling, two opposing longitudinal side walls and two opposing end walls are pre-assembled to form a modular unit; wherein the first of the end walls is a facade wall part with a window; wherein the second of the end walls is provided with a room door; wherein the room unit is provided with:

• an installation shaft extending through the room unit; and

• one or more local mains of the type consisting of: energy wiring, signal wiring, water system, heating system, cooling system and/or ventilation system; wherein the one or more local mains are connected to the installation shaft.

This room unit according to the invention is, in situ, combined with other such prefabricated room units to form (at least part of) a building by combining it with further pre-fabricated room units according to the invention. Constructional work to be performed on the building site is, according to the invention, considerably reduced, because: • the floor, ceiling, side walls and end walls are provided as a pre-fabricated modular unit so that no further assembling work for joining floor, ceiling and wall members together is required; • one of the end walls of the pre-fabricated modular unit is in the form of an facade wall part so that facade finishing activities after joining several room units are considerably reduced if not reduced completely; • the other one of the end walls has a pre-fabricated room door (i.e. a room door opening, optionally provided with a room door member, to allow people to enter and to leave the room unit);

• all local mains - such as wiring for electricity and/or signal transfer, plumbing for water supply and discharge, ducts for ventilation - can be pre-installed such that work in situ relating to these mains is reduced considerably;

• the installation shaft to which all local mains are connected provides for easy connection of the local mains to the principal mains. This installation shaft extends through the room unit so that it is accessible from two opposing sides of the room unit.

In this application, the term facade wall (part) is meant to be a wall which is formed as a wall adapted to form part of the boundary between the inside of the building and the outside of the building. The outer face of this out side wall (part) will be part of the outer appearance of the resulting building and will be weather resistant. This application further uses the term 'partition' in combination with the words 'wall', ceiling, and 'floor', to indicate a wall, floor or ceiling, respectively, which forms inside the building a separation/boundary between two rooms of a building. The term 'partition' thus indicates - in contrast to the term facade wall - an inside wall of a building.

In this application the prefix "pre-" (like in words as pre-fabricated, pre-assembled, pre-mounted, pre-provided etc) indicates that it is already 'provided for', 'done' etcetera before the room unit arrives at the building site where the building is erected.

In this application the term 'local' is used in relation to mains, to indicate the mains for the room unit itself, whilst the term 'principal' is used in relation to mains to indicate the mains connecting several local mains of different room units together to form (part of) the network of the mains of the building.

According to the invention it is advantageous when the installation shaft extends vertically through the room unit. This vertical installation shaft is accessible from the upperside as well as from the underside of the room unit. A vertical installation shaft does not influence the vertical dimensions (internal height as well as external total height) of the room unit. A horizontal installation shaft (which is possible as well) would either reduce the internal height of the room unit or increase the external height of the room unit.

According to a further embodiment, it is advantageous when, viewed in horizontal direction parallel to the second end wall, the installation shaft is provided adjacent the room door; and when the installation shaft is provided at the inner side of the room unit next to the second end wall. Arranging the installation shaft at this location close to the room door provides several advantages. No matter what the furniture or the layout of the inner space of the room will be, the location close to the room door can be kept easy accessible for maintenance. Locations close to a room door are in general not really efficacious in use. Using this location for arranging the installation shaft thus minimizes loss of useful space elsewhere.

In order to reduce constructional work in situ further, it is according to the invention advantageous when at least one principal main per type of provided local main is pre- mounted in the installation shaft; when each type of provided local main is connected to a said principal main of corresponding type; and when the one or more principal mains extend in the longitudinal direction of the installation shaft. Having principal mains pre-installed in the installation shaft, connecting the mains of the room unit with the network of the building is simplified. One only has to connect the ends of the principal mains at the ends of the installation shaft with corresponding principal mains of adjacent further room units according to the invention or other principal main parts.

In order to simplify connecting the ends of the principal mains, it is according to the invention advantageous when each principal main is provided, at both ends of the installation shaft, with a connector for connection to a corresponding principal main of a corresponding other room unit.

According to a further embodiment, the facade wall part is a glass facade, such as a glass panel. Implementing the facade wall part as a glass facade, allows a maximum of light entering the room unit and allows minimizing the presence of constructional beams, frames etcetera, such that an essentially unimpeded view from inside the room unit to outside the building becomes possible. The spatial experience of a person present in the room unit is thus increased.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal walls are partition walls and/or the floor is a partition floor and/or the ceiling is a partition ceiling. Those walls are not required to be weather resistant, they only need to provide a separation between two rooms. In general such partition walls, partition floors and partition ceilings will be adapted to provide sound insulation and/or fire compartments.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the floor is a concrete floor.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the room unit comprises a toilet, shower cubicle, and a water sink; the water system for supply and discharge of water is connected to the toilet, shower cubicle, and water sink; and at least the discharge part of the water system is pre-provided essentially in the floor, preferably embedded in the floor. According to another embodiment the local mains are essentially pre-provided in the floor and/or ceiling and/or side walls and/or end walls. Both embodiments allow a neat and efficient finishing - like wall papering, painting, plastering etcetera - of the room unit before or after being assembled into a building. The shower cubicle, water sink and toilet allow the room unit to be used as a room for living, for example as a hotel chamber.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the room unit further comprises one or more from the group consisting of:

• a bed, especially a double bed;

• a television;

• lighting;

• a safe; • a telephone;

• wifi (Wireless Fidelity);

• curtains;

• shades; • air conditioning;

• ventilation;

• wall heating and/or cooling;

• led ambient light, such as RGB (red green blue) led ambient light, which can for example be arranged in the ceilings of shower and toilet .

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a building comprising a plurality of room units according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the room units are arranged beside and/or on top of each other in such a manner that the outer wall parts together form, at least part of, an outer wall of the building.

According to this second aspect of the invention it is advantageous when the second end walls of room units arranged beside each other form together a wall of a passageway or gallery such that the said room units arranged beside each other are accessible from the passageway or gallery.

According to an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the building is a hotel, and each room unit forms a hotel chamber.

According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to the use of a room unit according to the invention to construct a hotel chamber in a hotel or as a hotel chamber.

According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a method of building a hotel, wherein a multiplicity of room units according to the invention are assembled together to form a building according to the invention.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Next below the invention will be described further with reference to the enclosed drawing. In this drawing:

Figure 1 shows schematically a perspective top/front view on a room unit according to the invention; Figure 2 shows schematically a perspective back/bottom view on the room unit of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows schematically a plan view of the room unit according to Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows schematically a plan view of a part of a building with a row of several room units according to the invention; and

Figure 5 shows schematically a perspective view of a building according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Figures 1 and 2 shows in perspective view a room unit 1 according to the invention. This room unit has a floor 2, a ceiling 3, a longitudinal side wall 4, a longitudinal side wall 5, a first end wall 6 and a second end wall 7.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, a multiplicity of these room units 1 can be placed next and/or on top of each other to erect a building 24 or part of a building 24.

The first end wall 6 is a facade wall part, i.e. when the building is erected this facade wall part will be a part of the facade of the building or in other words when the building is erected this facade wall part will form together with facade wall parts of other similar room units 1 (possibly supplemented with other facade elements) a facade wall of the building. Such a facade wall is part of the outer appearance of a building. A facade wall (part) is adapted to resist the weather.

In order to allow daylight to enter the room unit and to allow a view outside from the room unit, the facade wall part 6 is provided with a window 12. This window 12 can be of a type which allows opening or of a type which is permanently closed.

The second end wall 7 opposite the facade wall part 6 is provided with a room door, i.e. a door allowing people to enter and leave the room. Depending on local building requirements, room doors in general have a height of 1.7 - 2.2 meter and a width of 0.6 - 1.2 meter, such that a person can enter or leave the room while walking upright. As shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the room unit 1 according to the invention is further provided with an installation shaft 8. This installation shaft 8 extends from one side, such as the underside, of the room unit 1 to the other side, such as the upperside, of the room unit 1.

As shown in Figure 3, the room unit according to the invention is also provided with local mains 9, 10, 11 for providing supply to and/or discharge from facilities (like bathroom, toilet, lightning, telephone, computer, television, heating, air conditioning etcetera) arranged or to be arranged inside the room unit. Local mains thus include inter alia electric wiring, wiring for transmission of signals or data, tubes or ducts for supply or discharge of liquids or gases. Figure 3 shows a few examples of such local mains. 9 indicates local water mains for supply of fresh water, 10 indicates discharge tubes for discharge of used water and 11 indicates electric wiring for feeding electric devices. This electric wiring can also serve for signal and/or data transmission, but also separate wiring for signal and/or data transmission can be arranged.

The local mains 9, 10, 11 shown in figure 3 are according to a preferred embodiment of the invention essentially all embedded in the floor 2 of the room unit. However, it will be clear that those local mains can also be arranged inside or on the side walls and/or end walls and or ceiling.

The local mains 9, 10, 11 connected to the installation shaft. This allows easy connection of these local mains with principal mains once the room units are placed next and/or on top of each other.

The entire room unit as described up to now with reference to the drawings, is according to the invention a pre- fabricated modular unit intended and suitable to be joined in situ (at the building site) with other such room units to form a building. Pre- fabricated means that those room units are fabricated on one place, especially inside a factory building, not being the building site. Subsequently the pre-fabricated room units will be transported over a distance (which in general will be more than 1 km) with for example a lorry to the building site. At the building site the pre-fabricated room units will be placed next and/or on top of each other to form a building or at least part of a building.

The installation shaft 8 is preferably arranged vertically. This is, for example, practical in case water is to be discharged. Further as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the installation shaft is preferably provided at the second end wall 7, next to the room door 13. Arranging the installation shaft in this manner allows also access to the installation shaft from outside the room unit through a hatch 25 in the second end wall 7. Such a hatch can have the size of a door, but can also be smaller than a door.

In order to reduce installation time at the building location, it is according to the invention preferred to have principal mains 14, 15, 16 pre-arranged in the installation shaft. This reduces the in situ installation work to just connection these principal mains with further principal mains. In figure 3 reference 14 indicates a principal main for the supply of fresh water, reference 15 indicates a principal main for the discharge of used water, reference 16 indicates principal mains for electricity and signals, reference 26 indicates a principal main for air circulation, and reference number 27 indicates a principal main of a heating system.

Figure 3 shows a room unit 1 according to the invention equipped as a hotel chamber. This room unit 1 comprises a double bed 21, a television screen 22, 2 lamps 22, a shower cubicle 18, a water sink 19, and a toilet 17. The toilet 17 and shower cubicle, both are cylindrical. Both are made from two essentially half cylindrical members arranged vertically. One of these members is fixedly arranged and the other of these members is rotatable around a vertical axis. This allows closing the shower and toilet by rotating the rotatable member to form a closed cylindrical inner space and opening both by rotating the rotatable member to a position of essentially full overlap with the fixed member. In this open position, the shower and toilet occupy a minimum of space. As will be clear, this minimal space occupying construction of shower and toilet is in fact an invention completely independent from the invention as claimed in the attached claims. Figure 4 shows a plan view of a horizontal row of more than five room units 1 according to the invention. Those room units 1 are arranged parallel to each other with the doors 13 all opening on a common passageway or gallery. On the opposing longitudinal side 28, a further horizontal row of room units 1 with the doors opening on the passageway can be arranged. In case of a gallery, the opposing longitudinal side 28 will likely be open and provided with a fencing.

Figure 5 shows a building 24, especially a hotel, having, in this example, four horizontal rows of room units 1 stacked onto each other, each horizontal row having, in this example, 6 room units 1. On each floor there are two opposing rows of room units 1 with a passageway 23 in between.

LIST OF REFERENCES USED IN THE DRAWING

1 = room unit

2 = floor 3 = ceiling

4 = longitudinal side wall

5 = longitudinal side wall

6 = first end wall

7 = second end wall 8 = installation shaft

9 = water supply (local main)

10 = water discharge (local main)

11 = electricity wiring / energy wiring (local main)

12 = window 13 = room door

14 = water supply (principal main)

15 = water discharge (principal main)

16 = electricity wiring (principal main)

17 = toilet 18 = shower cubicle

19 = water sink

20 = lamp / lighting

21 = bed

22 = television / screen 23 = passageway / gallery

24 = building / hotel

25 = hatch

26 = air circulation (principal main)

27 = heating (principal main) 28 = longitudinal side of passageway / gallery

Claims

1] Room unit (1), wherein the room unit (1) is defined by:

• a floor (2); • a ceiling (3);

• two opposing longitudinal side walls (4, 5);

• two opposing end walls (6, 7); wherein the floor (2), ceiling (3), two opposing longitudinal side walls (4, 5) and two opposing end walls (6, 7) are assembled to form a modular unit; wherein the first (6) of the end walls is an facade wall part with a window (12); wherein the second (7) of the end walls is provided with a room door (13); wherein the room unit (1) is provided with:

• an installation shaft (8) extending through the room unit (1); and

• one or more local mains (9, 10, 11) from the type consisting of: energy wiring, signal wiring, water system, heating system, cooling system and/or ventilation system; wherein the one or more local mains (9, 10, 11) are connected to the installation shaft (8).

2] Room unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein the installation shaft (8) extends vertically.

3] Room unit (1) according to claim 2, wherein, viewed in horizontal direction parallel to the second end wall (7), the installation shaft (8) is provided adjacent the room door (13); and wherein the installation shaft (8) is provided at the inner side of the room unit (1) next to the second end wall (7).

4] Room unit (1) according to claim 3, wherein the second end wall (7) is provided with a hatch (25) which can be opened for access to the installation shaft (8).

5] Room unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one principal main (14, 15, 16) per type of provided local main (9, 10, 11) is pre-mounted in the installation shaft (8); wherein each type of provided local main (9, 10, 11) is connected to a said principal main (14, 15, 16) of corresponding type; wherein the one or more principal mains (14, 15, 16) extend in the longitudinal direction of the installation shaft (8).

6] Room unit (1) according to claim 5, wherein each principal main (14, 15, 16) is provided, at both ends of the installation shaft (8), with a connector for connection to a corresponding principal main (14, 15, 16) of a corresponding other room unit (1).

7] Room unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the facade wall part (6) is a glass facade.

8] Room unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal side walls (4, 5) are partition walls.

9] Room unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the floor (2) is a partition floor and wherein the ceiling (3) is a partition ceiling.

10] Room unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the floor (2) is a concrete floor.

11] Room unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the room unit (1) comprises a toilet (17), shower cubicle (18), and a water sink (19); wherein the water system (14, 15) for supply and discharge of water is connected to the toilet (17), shower cubicle (18), and water sink (19); and wherein at least the discharge part (15) of the water system is provided essentially in the floor (2), preferably embedded in the floor (2).

12] Room unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more from the group consisting of: • a bed (21), especially a double bed;

• a television (22);

• lighting (20);

• a safe; • a telephone;

• wifi;

• curtains;

• shades;

• air conditioning; • ventilation;

• wall heating and/or cooling;

• led ambient light.

13] Building (24) comprising a plurality of room unit (l)s according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the room unit (l)s are arranged beside and/or on top of each other in such a manner that the facade wall parts together form, at least part of, an outer wall of the building (24).

14] Building (24) according to claim 13, wherein the second end walls (6, 7) of room units (1) arranged beside each other form together a wall of a passageway (23) or gallery (23) such that the said room units (1) arranged beside each other are accessible from the passageway (23) or gallery (23).

15] Building (24) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the building (24) is a hotel, and wherein each room unit (l)s forms a hotel chamber.

16] Use of a room unit (1) according to one of the claims 1-12 to construct a hotel chamber when building (24) a hotel.

17] Use of a room unit (1) according to one of the claims 1-12 as a hotel chamber. 18] Method of building (24) a hotel, wherein a multiplicity of room units (1) according to one of the claims 1-12 are assembled together to form a building (24) according to one of the claims 13-16.

19] Method of constructing a building, like a hotel, comprising the steps of:

^■ fabricating a multiplicity of room units according to one of the claims 1-12 at a first location, such as inside a factory building;

^■ transporting the pre-fabricated room units over a distance from the first location to the building site; ■ placing the pre-fabricated room units at the building site next and/or on top of each other to form at least part of a building.

20] Method according to claim 19, wherein said distance of transportation is at least 1 km, such as 5-10 km or more.