METHOD FOR SETTING A BUILDING ON A SUBDIVISION LOT

Abstract

A method for placing a building on a subdivision lot includes the steps of providing a planned community subdivision having a plurality of lots, preparing at least one of the lots to accept at least one building, and assembling at least one substantially complete building in a factory. The method also includes transporting the substantially complete building from the factory to the planned community subdivision, moving the substantially complete building to a position within the subdivision that is adjacent to a first lot, traversing the substantially complete building over the first lot to a second lot, and installing the substantially complete building onto the second lot.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/431,196 entitled “BUILDING TRANSPORT DEVICE” and filed on May 9, 2006; Ser. No. 11/620,103 entitled “DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING A LOAD” and filed on Jan. 5, 2007; Ser. No. 11/559,229 entitled “TRANSPORT DEVICE CAPABLE OF ADJUSTMENT TO MAINTAIN LOAD PLANARITY” and filed on Nov. 13, 2006; Ser. No. 11/620,560 entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOBILE STEM WALL” and filed on Jan. 5, 2007; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/887,696, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATED INVENTORY AND PLANNING” and filed on Feb. 1, 2007 the entire contents of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The prior art is generally directed to transporting a building or house by a flat bed delivery device, such as a truck or other device. The prior art delivery devices generally attempt to deliver the buildings or houses onto or adjacent a foundation or other structure, directly from the street adjoining the property.

The house transporters in the prior art do not readily allow the house transporters to traverse terrain that includes obstacles protruding above the grade. The prior art delivery methods do not readily allow the house transporters to traverse one or more subdivided plots of land. The prior art delivery methods also do not readily allow the house transporter to traverse one or more excavated and prepared building sites.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a method for placing a building on a subdivision lot. This method includes the steps of providing a planned community subdivision having a plurality of lots, preparing at least one of the lots to accept at least one building, and assembling at least one substantially complete building in a factory. The method also includes transporting the substantially complete building from the factory to the planned community subdivision, moving the substantially complete building to a position within the subdivision that is adjacent to a first lot, traversing the substantially complete building over the first lot to a second lot, and installing the substantially complete building onto the second lot.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to another method for placing a building on a subdivision lot. This method includes the steps of providing a planned community subdivision having a first lot adjacent to a second lot and the second lot adjacent to a third lot, such that the first, second, and third lots form at least one row. The method also includes the steps of preparing each of the lots to accept at least one building, assembling at least one substantially complete building in a factory, transporting the substantially complete building from the factory to the planned community subdivision. Further, the method includes moving the substantially complete building to a position within the subdivision that is adjacent to the first lot, traversing the substantially complete building over the first and second lots to the third lot, wherein the substantially complete building crosses: at least one shared border between the first and second lots, at least one shared border between the second and third lots, and the third lot is the last unoccupied lot in the at least one row of lots. The method also includes installing the substantially complete building onto the third lot, and repeating the steps of assembling, transporting, moving, traversing, and installing until at least one building is installed on each of the lots in the at least one row of lots.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to a system of placing a building on a subdivision lot. The system includes a subdivision having a plurality lots, wherein at least one lot is prepared and adapted to accept at least one building, and a factory configured to assemble at least one substantially complete building. The system also includes a building transportation device adapted to: (a) move the at least one substantially complete building from the factory to a position within the subdivision that is adjacent to a first lot; (b) traverse the first lot to a second lot within the subdivision with the substantially complete building; and (c) position and release the substantially complete building on the second lot, wherein the second lot is the at least one prepared lot.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description and the Figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a subdivision with a substantially complete home leaving the factory.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a substantially complete home on a building transport device according to a one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view a subdivision with a substantially complete home leaving the factory.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the subdivision of FIG. 3 with the substantially complete home positioned over a first subdivision lot.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the subdivision of FIG. 3 with the substantially complete home positioned over the first subdivision lot and a second subdivision lot.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the subdivision of FIG. 3 with the substantially complete home positioned over the second subdivision lot.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of another embodiment a subdivision with a substantially complete home that is transported over multiple subdivision streets.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of FIG. 7 where the substantially complete home is positioned over a second subdivision street.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of FIG. 7 where the substantially complete home is positioned substantially adjacent to a row subdivision lots.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of FIG. 7 where the substantially complete home is transported over a first subdivision lot and is positioned substantially over to a second and third subdivision lot.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of FIG. 7 where the substantially complete home is placed over the third subdivision lot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a method and system for placing a substantially completed building on a subdivision lot according to one embodiment of the present invention. Generally, land is selected for a planned neighborhood subdivision and a subdivision design is prepared for the land. The land is substantially prepared according to the subdivision plan, including at least one factory for constructing the buildings designed for the subdivision. Preferably the factory is erected substantially near the planned subdivision; however, the factory can be erected anywhere desired. Buildings can be substantially completed in the factory and transported to the substantially prepared subdivision using a building transport vehicle, including moving the buildings over one or more substantially prepared subdivision lots.

One embodiment of a designed and substantially prepared subdivision 10 is shown in FIG. 1. Subdivision 10 can be located within a larger neighborhood subdivision; however, the neighborhood may be any suitable size and include any number of subdivision lots. Preferably, a large plot of land including hundreds of acres is identified for the neighborhood; however any suitable acreage of land can be identified for the neighborhood. Once the acreage is identified, a neighborhood subdivision plan is designed and prepared according to the physical site limitations, desires of the builder and future owners, and the zoning laws of the jurisdiction of the neighborhood subdivision, and/or any other factors in considering building a neighborhood subdivision. It is noted that these factors are mere examples and not meant to limit the invention in anyway.

In one embodiment, subdivision 10 can be initially prepared with a survey and appropriate subdivision plots of land are marked, or in any other suitable manner. The subdivision plots can be marked in any suitable manner, such as with stakes, flags, string, laser guides, paint, chalk, or merely by reference on a map, or in any other suitable manner. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, subdivision 10 is separate plots of land according to dividing lines 12, 14 and 16. Each subdivided plot may be prepared to include one or more residential and/or commercial buildings; however, a subdivided plot may be slated for any type, number or combination of buildings. The subdivided plots can be configured in a rectangular or square formation; however, the subdivided lots may be configured and divided into any suitable shape. One or more subdivided plots may also be set aside for parks, nature preserves, recreational facilities or any other suitable use. Prepared sites 18 may also be used to further indicate the location of the future buildings on the subdivided plots.

Subdivision 10 may be prepared through various levels of site preparation and excavation. In one embodiment where subdivision 10 includes level topography and suitable soil conditions, subdivision 10 will not need major excavation work. In such conditions where a building does not include a basement area, subdivision 10 will simply be excavated for any public or non-public utilities necessary to support a building. Once subdivision 10 is excavated for the utilities, the utilities, such as electrical power lines, gas lines, water and sewage lines, septic systems, telephone lines, and cable lines can be installed. However, any utilities may be installed in any order at any time. The utilities and associated excavation may also be performed after a building is already installed on the subdivided plots.

Additional excavation work may be necessary to prepare a subdivided plot for a number of reasons. Where the topography of subdivision 10 is initially unsuitable, or less suitable to support buildings due to conditions such as uneven terrain, excavation or grading work may be necessary to level the terrain. Excavation and grading may also be necessary to correct structural and/or environmental concerns such as soil composition and drainage.

Subdivided plots may also require excavation depending on the type of building foundation used. Thus, prepared sites 18 may be excavated and prepared according to the requirements of the selected building foundation. In one embodiment, the buildings installed in the subdivided lots include basements and/or crawl spaces. Thus, prepared sites 18 may be excavated to the appropriate depth, according to the building and basement design. In another embodiment where the building rests on a foundation slab, local zoning or environmental conditions may require the slab be situated below the frost line. Accordingly, the prepared sites 18 may be excavated to a depth below the frost line to support the foundation slab. The above examples are a representative sample of the excavation work that may be required and any amount (or no) excavation can be performed on the lots, depending on the specific natural lot makeup, design of the building and any other factors. Prepared sites 18 may also be excavated for building foundation designs such as stem walls, pole construction, or any other suitable building foundation design.

A building fabrication factory or facility 20 is also shown in FIG. 1. In a preferred embodiment, building fabrication factory 20 is located within or substantially approximate to subdivision 10; however, factory 20 can be located in any suitable place. Building fabrication factory 20 can be formed as a temporary, permanent or semi-permanent structure. As a temporary structure building fabrication factory 20 may be constructed of any suitable material or combination of materials that is relatively easy to erect and to deconstruction; however, building fabrication factory 20 can be constructed of traditional building materials or any other suitable building materials. Building fabrication factory 20 may also be constructed of suitably strong material necessary to support material handling equipment connected to building fabrication factory 20 as is typically found in a factory setting.

As a permanent structure, building fabrication factory 20 may be erected in any suitable location within or substantially near subdivision 10. Preferably, building fabrication factory 20 may be constructed from materials such as steel and concrete that can sufficiently support heavy loads produced by attached material handling equipment; however, building fabrication factory 20 may be constructed from any suitable materials. Further, a permanent structure can be repurposed once all building construction is complete. In one embodiment, the building fabrication factory 20 can be converted into a community facility that includes recreation rooms, gyms, pools, grocery stores, other residential space, other commercial retail space, a combination of the above, or for any other suitable purpose.

In either the temporary or permanent design, building fabrication factory 20 may also be located substantially remote from subdivision 10, including substantially great distances. In one embodiment, one or more public or private transportation routes may separate building fabrication factory 20 from subdivision 10. Further, building fabrication factory 20 can be sufficiently sized to allow construction of any desirable building size, including buildings having one or more stories. Building fabrication factory 20 may also store building materials, offices, equipment, or anything else to facilitate the subdivision construction.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a building transport vehicle 22 supporting a substantially completed building 24. In one embodiment, building transport vehicle 22 includes four rotatable and movable dollies 26. The dollies 26 enable the building transport vehicle to have a greater range of movement. Further, building transport vehicle may include a width and ground clearance sufficient to enable building transport vehicle to move the substantially completed building 24 over a variety of terrain. The width and ground clearance may also include sufficient clearance to move substantially completed building 24 over excavated prepared sites 18 as well as over pre-constructed building foundations that protrude from the ground (above grade) such as stem walls, crawl space foundations, poles (for pole construction), or any other above grade foundation sections. Building transport vehicle 22 may also traverse other obstacles such as unfinished streets, undeveloped land, curbs, or other difficult terrain. Thus, building transport vehicle 22 can move substantially completed building 24 from building fabrication factory 20 to any location within subdivision 10. FIG. 1 depicts building transport vehicle 22 leaving building fabrication factory 20 and traversing street 28.

Street 28 may be excavated and prepared during the time the subdivided lots and prepared sites 18 are excavated. Additionally, street 28 may require that various utility lines are installed before the street is paved. In a preferred embodiment, street 28 is excavated and paved after the necessary utility lines are installed under the street. Preferably, street 28 is substantially completed before building transport vehicle 22 traverses the street to enable smooth and easy transport of substantially completed building 24. However, street 28 may be prepared and substantially completed at any desirable time, including before, during, or after substantially completed buildings are installed at prepared sites 18. Thus, as described above, building transport vehicle 22 may traverse one or more streets that are merely earthen and unprepared or nothing more than just a plot of land or any combination thereof.

FIG. 3 illustrates building transport vehicle 22 moving substantially completed building 24 in accordance with one embodiment. In one embodiment, building transport vehicle 22 travels from the street to a subdivided lot, then traverses at least one subdivided lot to place substantially completed building 24 on a second subdivided lot. During placement of the building, building transport vehicle 22 generally will traverse subdivision dividing line 16. As described above, dividing line 16 may be marked according to stakes or other suitable dividing line markers or may be purely artificial and unmarked. However, dividing line 16 may also be a substantially completed sidewalk or curb or any other structure or marking that divides the subdivided properties from substantially completed street 28.

FIG. 4 illustrates building transport vehicle 22 moving over substantially prepared site 30. In a preferred embodiment, the topography around prepared site 30 is substantially level; however, the topography can have any desired or undesired grade. Prepared site 30 may also be excavated to accept a below grade building foundation, but does not contain any substantial above grade protrusions. Thus, building transport vehicle 22 may maintain a low ground clearance when traversing prepared site 30. However, as described above, building transport vehicle 22 may have a ground clearance sufficient to traverse foreseeable variations in the terrain of subdivision 10 as well as any above grade protrusions in prepared site 30 or have variable ground clearance. Additionally, building transport vehicle 22 may be sufficiently wide enough to traverse directly over excavated prepared site 30.

FIG. 5 illustrates building transport vehicle 22 straddling two subdivided properties separated by dividing line 12. Building transport vehicle 22 crosses over dividing line 12 and continues to move in direction 29. Preferably, prepared site 32 is excavated similar to prepared site 30 without any above grade protrusions. However, like prepared site 30, prepared site 32 may include a foundation that protrudes above grade. Prepared sites 32 and 30 may also include different foundations, one having a protrusion above grade, while the other does not. In either case, building transport vehicle 22 may be adapted to traverse both types of foundations.

FIG. 6 illustrates building transport vehicle 22 and substantially completed building 24 positioned over prepared site 32. Building transport vehicle 22 may be configured to lower substantially completed building 24 into excavated and prepared site 32. However, substantially completed building 24 may be installed within or on prepared site 32 in any suitable fashion. One or more utilities lines and/or systems may also be connected to substantially completed building 24. However, one or more utility lines or systems may not be installed or configured when substantially completed building 24 is installed at prepared site 32. Thus, the one or more utilities can be installed, configured, and connected to substantially completed building 24 at any suitable time.

Substantially completed buildings may be installed at the remaining prepared sites in subdivision 10 in various different sequences. In one embodiment, a second building transport vehicle may be positioned on street 28, approximately adjacent to dividing line 16 and prepared site 30 at any suitable time. Once building transport vehicle 22 has cleared prepared site 30, a second substantially completed building can be moved and installed at prepared site 30. After the second substantially completed building is installed at prepared site 30, a third and fourth substantially completed building can be installed at prepared site 34 and prepared site 36 according the methods described above. Similarly, a fifth and sixth substantially completed building can be installed according to the methods described above after the third and fourth substantially completed buildings are installed at prepared sites 40 and 42.

Alternatively, substantially completed buildings may be installed at prepared sites 32, 36, and 42 according to the methods described above, before any substantially completed buildings are installed at prepared sites 30, 34, and 40. However, the second through the sixth substantially completed buildings may be installed before, during, or after substantially completed building 24 is installed at prepared site 32 (i.e., at any convenient time after substantially completed building 24 is no longer prohibiting the movement of additional building transport vehicles).

FIGS. 7-11 illustrate another embodiment wherein building transport vehicle 22 traverses at least two subdivided plots before substantially completed building 24 is installed at a prepared site.

FIG. 7 illustrates building transport vehicle 22 supporting substantially completed building 24 exiting building fabrication factory or facility 20. Building transport vehicle 22 is positioned on street 28 and is prepared to move in direction 43 towards street 44.

FIG. 8 illustrates building transport vehicle 22 on street 44 prepared to move in direction 46. As discussed above, independent dollies 26 are rotatably attached to building transport vehicle 22. To move in direction 46, independent dollies 26 preferably rotate in direction 46 without moving the entire building transport vehicle 22 and substantially completed building 24. However, as described above, any suitable vehicle may be used to transport substantially completed building 24, and other suitable vehicles may need to completely rotate along with substantially completed building 24 to move in direction 46.

FIG. 9 illustrates building transport vehicle 22 positioned in the direction 49 on street 44, adjacent to dividing line 48 and prepared site 42. As described above, independent dollies 26 preferably rotate to enable building transport vehicle to move in direction 29. However, as illustrated, building transport vehicle 22 and substantially completed building 24 are rotated to enable building transport vehicle 22 to traverse prepared sites 42, 36, and 32 that were excavated to accept a below grade building foundation or any other suitable excavation and/or foundation. Building transport vehicle 22 will first traverse dividing line 48 before traversing prepared site 42 and the associated subdivided lot.

FIG. 10 illustrates building transport vehicle 22 moving in direction 49 and straddling prepared sites 32 and 36, as well as the respectively associated subdivided lots. After traversing prepared site 42, building transport vehicle crosses over dividing line 50, partially traversed excavated prepared site 36, and crosses over dividing line 14 to reach its currently illustrated position straddling prepared sites 32 and 36.

FIG. 11 illustrates building transport vehicle 22 positioned substantially over prepared site 32. As described above in connection with FIG. 6, building transport vehicle 22 may be configured to lower substantially completed building 24 into excavated and prepared site 32. However, substantially completed building 24 may be installed within or on prepared site 32 in any suitable fashion. One or more utilities lines and/or systems may also be connected to the installed substantially completed building 24. However, one or more utility lines or systems may not be installed or configured when substantially completed building 24 is installed at prepared site 32. Thus, the one or more utilities can be installed, configured, and connected to substantially completed building 24 at any suitable time.

Additional substantially completed buildings may be installed at the remaining prepared sites in subdivision 10 in various different sequences. In one embodiment, a second or additional building transport vehicle(s) may be moved along streets 28 and 44 and positioned approximately adjacent to dividing line 48 and prepared site 42 at any suitable time in accordance with the methods described above. Once building transport vehicle 22 has cleared prepared sites 42 and 36, a second substantially completed building can be traversed over prepared site 42 and installed at prepared site 36. After the second substantially completed building is installed at prepared site 36, a third substantially completed building can be moved to and installed at prepared site 42 in accordance with the methods described above. After substantially completed buildings are installed at prepared sites 32, 36, and 42, a fourth building transport vehicle and associated fourth substantially completed building can be moved to street 44, adjacent to dividing line 48 and prepared site 40. The fourth building transport vehicle can then traverse prepared sites 40 and 34 to prepared site 30 and install the substantially completed building at prepared site 30 in accordance with the methods described above. While the method of this embodiment was described with more than one building transport vehicle, in an alternative embodiment, the method may be carried out in the same steps as described above using a single vehicle. The fifth and sixth substantially completed building can be installed according to the methods described above after the fourth substantially completed building is installed at prepared sites 30.

Alternatively, substantially completed buildings may be installed at prepared sites 30, 34, and 40 according to the methods described above, but before any substantially completed buildings are installed at prepared sites 32, 36, and 42. However, the second through the sixth substantially completed buildings may be installed before, during, or after substantially completed building 24 is installed at prepared site 32 (i.e., at any convenient time after substantially completed building 24 is no longer prohibiting the movement of additional building transport vehicles).

While the embodiments described above illustrate one subsection of subdivision 10 with six visible subdivided plots, any number and combination of subdivided plots are compatible with the methods herein described. Thus, the number of prepared sites and subdivided lots that building transport vehicle 22 may traverse may extend from one to the n in either direction. Further, the subdivided lots may include other subdivision plans including back-to-back cul-de-sac subdivisions, wherein the building transport vehicle 22 may traverse one or more subdivided lots according to the methods described above before installing a substantially completed building 24 on a prepared site; however, the particular type and layout of the subdivision may be configured in any suitable manner.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for placing a building on a subdivision lot, comprising the steps of:

providing a planned community subdivision having a plurality of lots;

preparing a first lot of said plurality of lots to accept at least one building;

assembling at least one substantially complete building in a factory;

transporting said substantially complete building from said factory to said planned community subdivision;

moving said substantially complete building to a position within said subdivision that is adjacent to said first lot;

traversing said substantially complete building over said first lot to a second lot; and

installing said substantially complete building onto said second lot.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of placing a second building on said first lot after said first building has been placed on said second lot.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said preparing step includes excavating said first lot and said second lot and said traversing step further includes traversing said substantially complete building over said first excavated lot.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said substantially complete building does not include a building foundation.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said preparing step includes creating a building foundation; and

said installing step includes coupling said substantially complete building on said building foundation.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of assembling said substantially complete building in a factory includes coupling a building foundation to said substantially complete building.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said building foundation is a lightweight building foundation.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said factory is proximate to said planned community subdivision.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said factory is separated from said planned community subdivision by at least one public transportation route and said substantially complete building is transported over said one public transportation route.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transporting, moving, and traversing steps are performed by a building transportation device formed by coupling two independently propelled and controlled transport vehicles and supporting said substantially complete building between said coupled transport vehicles.

11. A method for placing a building on a subdivision lot, comprising the steps of:

providing a planned community subdivision having a first lot adjacent to a second lot and said second lot adjacent to a third lot, such that said first, second, and third lots form at least one row;

preparing each said lot to accept at least one building;

assembling at least one substantially complete building in a factory;

transporting said substantially complete building from said factory to said planned community subdivision;

moving said substantially complete building to a position within said subdivision that is adjacent to said first lot;

traversing said substantially complete building over said first and second lots to said third lot, wherein said substantially complete building crosses at least one shared border between said first and second lots; at least one shared border between said second and third lots; and said third lot is the last unoccupied lot in said at least one row of lots;

installing said substantially complete building onto said third lot; and

repeating said steps of assembling, transporting, moving, traversing, and installing until at least one building is installed on each of said lots in said at least one row of lots.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said preparing step includes excavating said first, second, and third lots and said traversing step includes traversing said substantially complete building over said first and second excavated lots.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of assembling said substantially complete building in a factory includes coupling a building foundation to said substantially complete building.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said building foundation is a lightweight building foundation.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein said factory is proximate to said planned community subdivision.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein said factory is separated from said planned community subdivision by at least one public transportation route and said substantially complete building is transported over said one public transportation route.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein said transporting, moving, and traversing steps are performed by a building transportation device formed by coupling two independently propelled and controlled transport vehicles and supporting said substantially complete building between said coupled transport vehicles.

18. A system of placing a building on a subdivision lot comprising:

a subdivision having a plurality lots, wherein a first lot is prepared and adapted to accept at least one building;

a factory configured to assemble at least one substantially complete building;

a building transportation device adapted to: (a) move said at least one substantially complete building from said factory to a position within said subdivision that is adjacent to said first lot; (b) traverse said first lot to a second lot within said subdivision with said substantially complete building; and (c) position and release said substantially complete building on said second lot, wherein said second lot is said at least one prepared lot.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said building transportation device is further adapted to transport said substantially complete building by coupling two independently propelled and controlled transport vehicles and supporting said substantially complete building between said coupled transport vehicles.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said first and second lots have areas excavated to receive said substantially complete building;

said building transportation device further adapted to: pass directly over said first excavation area by straddling said first excavation area; and straddle said second excavated area to perform step (c).