Methods of Constructing Buildings Using Steel Containers
A building is provided, comprising at least two shipping containers, said containers comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and two opposed side walls, said containers being mounted to a foundation in a spaced-apart, parallel manner, wherein portions of the adjacent inner side walls of said containers are removed, and further wherein a roof is attached to the top walls of said containers.
The present invention relates generally to methods of constructing buildings for commercial and residential use, and in a particular though non-limiting embodiment, to a method of constructing buildings using a combination of standard construction materials and steel containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere are many known methods in the art for constructing a building. Typically a building is constructed on-site, requiring many hours of skilled labor and using common construction supplies, such as brick, mortar, and lumber. Such supplies are often very costly. Furthermore, typical construction may not be strong or durable enough in certain areas of the country more prone to earthquakes, hurricanes, and other serious weather.
Recently, more cost-effective methods of construction have been proposed. One such method is to fabricate a building of steel in a factory and then move the building to the desired site. This method has proven to be faster and less expensive than traditional construction methods.
However, the metal used in such construction is very heavy and expensive to transport. Also, when using a traditional pre-fabricated metal building, there is a subsequent inability to expand the interior user space. Furthermore, steel buildings are frequently not as aesthetically pleasing, and do not have the look or feel of a traditionally constructed building. There is, therefore, a long-standing yet unmet need for methods of constructing homes in a stronger, economical and time-efficient manner, while still pleasing prospective owners aesthetically.
Turning for a moment to a seemingly unrelated issue, as more products are shipped to the U.S. from overseas, particularly Asia, ever greater numbers of metal shipping containers have begun stacking up in the major shipping ports. Consequently, it is oftentimes less expensive to buy new shipping containers in Asia than it is to ship the old containers back to the U.S. Moreover, the useful life of a standard shipping container is only about five (5) years. After that time, the containers just sit empty in abandoned shipyards.
A standard shipping container range from 19 feet to 55 feet long, 7 feet to 9 feet wide and 8 feet to 10 feet high. The containers are typically made of stronger steel than standard steel, known as Cor-ten steel, which does not rust or corrode. Furthermore, the steel is mold-resistant. The floor of a standard shipping container is made of hardwood and is constructed to withstand several tons of internal weight. The containers are built to withstand typhoons, tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes.
Due to their durability, adaptability, light weight, low cost, and ease of stackability, new ideas for reusing the containers are currently being sought.
The shipping containers have been used in the past as storage units, temporary secure spaces at construction sites, and make-shift shelters. Furthermore, the containers have been used as small offices, workshops, or even employee quarters.
Therefore, there is also a long-standing yet unmet need to design methods of using the shipping containers in new and novel ways.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA building is provided, including at least two shipping containers, said containers comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and two opposed side walls, said containers being mounted to a foundation in a spaced-apart, parallel manner, wherein portions of the adjacent inner side walls of said containers are removed, and further wherein a roof is attached to the top walls of said containers.
For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:
In an example embodiment of the present invention, metal shipping containers or other suitable metal containers are used in combination with traditional construction methods and materials in order to produce a hybrid-construction building. In example embodiments, the shipping container(s) serve as strong structural elements of the building. Unlike more traditional, all-metal pre-fabricated buildings, hybrid-construction buildings look and feel more like traditional buildings, yet still have the advantages of a pre-fabricated metal building, including faster construction, simplified labor, and reduced construction costs.
The cost of purchasing the shipping containers is less than that of traditional construction materials, such as bricks and mortar. Furthermore, using the containers as the structural element of a building requires a smaller and less expensive foundation than traditional materials.
In exemplary embodiments, the shipping containers are used as modular elements that can be combined and connected in a manner to form larger, stronger structural frames for a building.
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The containers are mounted to a foundation in a spaced-apart, parallel manner, thereby forming the sides of one floor of the structure. In between the containers, the space is enclosed to form the rest of the interior space, using construction methods already known to those of skill in the art. Access between the containers and the enclosed space is provided via doors or other means cut into the containers.
The containers provide actual additional usable space. In order to further increase the usable space of the building, the steel containers need only be spaced further apart or closer together depending or desired space. A common roof is installed over the containers and the enclosed space. In further exemplary embodiments, doors and windows may be cut into either (or both) the steel containers or the enclosed space.
According to example embodiments, the structures range from one to ten stories high, stacked at a parallel and/or perpendicular and/or 90 degree angle flush at the corners to form a square and/or rectangle configuration with the option to move one side or both sides in or out up to eight feet depending on the interior or exterior space desired.
In still further embodiments, the metal shipping containers with additional anchoring could serve as an emergency shelter in case of a serious storm or other inclement weather, such as earthquakes, tornadoes, and the like.
The foregoing specification is provided only for illustrative purposes, and is not intended to describe all possible aspects of the present invention. While the invention has herein been shown and described in detail with respect to several exemplary embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that minor changes to the description, and various other modifications, omissions and additions may also be made without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.
Claims
1. A building, comprising:
- at least two shipping containers, said containers comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and two opposed side walls, said containers being mounted to a foundation in a spaced-apart, parallel manner,
- wherein portions of the adjacent inner side walls of said containers are removed, and
- further wherein a roof is attached to the top walls of said containers.
2. The building of claim 1, wherein substantially all of the adjacent inner side walls are removed.
3. The building of claim 1, wherein the foundation is reinforced concrete slabs.
4. The building of claim 1, wherein the foundation is a raised platform.
5. The building of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional container, said additional container being stacked perpendicularly on the top walls of the at least two shipping containers.
6. The building of claim 1, further comprising at least on additional container, said additional container being stacked parallel on the top wall of one of the shipping containers.
7. A method of constructing a building, comprising:
- providing at least two shipping containers, said containers comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and two opposed side walls,
- mounting said at least two containers to a foundation in a spaced-apart, parallel manner,
- removing portions of the adjacent inner side walls of said containers, and
- attaching a roof to the top walls of said containers.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein substantially all of the adjacent inner side walls are removed.
9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of stacking at least one additional container, perpendicularly on the top walls of the at least two shipping containers.
10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of stacking at least one additional container parallel to the top wall of one of the shipping containers.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 25, 2013
Publication Date: Jun 27, 2013
Inventor: Gottfried Balfantz, III (Metairie, LA)
Application Number: 13/776,210
International Classification: E04B 1/343 (20060101);