Modular Architecture
The present invention discloses a modular architecture. The modular architecture comprises a first main part and a first extended part. The first main part comprises a first main side, a second main side, a first sub side, a second sub side, and a first empty room. The first extended part can be stowed in the first empty room, or be extended from the first main side of the first main part to increase the interior space of the modular architecture. The second main side of the first main part has at least one connecting frame, and the first sub side or the second sub side has a side connecting frame. The connecting frame or the side connecting frame is used to connect the architecture to connecting frames of other modular architectures.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a modular architecture; more particularly, the present invention relates to a modular architecture capable of extending its interior space as well as being horizontally connected to or vertically stacked on other modular architectures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, there are still some unevenly-formed plots of land distributed in urban areas. These unevenly-formed plots cannot be used to build new architectures due to insufficient space or some property disputes. In order to utilize these unevenly-formed spaces, people could set up simple architectures, such as modular/prefabricated houses or container houses, to increase residential space. On the other hand, if a natural disaster such as an earthquake or typhoon occurs, this kind of simple architecture can also be utilized to quickly build modular houses to meet the urgent need for residential space.
In known prior arts, the available interior space of this kind of architecture is basically equal to the interior space of its main part. Therefore, the interior space of each architecture is fixed, with only very limited space for extension. Further, the application of this kind of architecture is inflexible, and the combinations of these architectures are limited. Moreover, the appearance of an assembled system of these architectures is ordinary. In addition, in known prior arts, this kind of architecture is very inconvenient for people to assemble, disassemble, or even transport.
Further, in known prior arts, these modular architectures are usually built only one story high due to the structural design. There are no modular architectures built with two stories by way of stacking in known prior arts.
Therefore, there is a need to provide a novel modular architecture to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide a modular architecture capable of extending its interior space.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a modular architecture capable of being assembled by means of stacking.
To achieve the abovementioned objects, the modular architecture of the present invention comprises a first main part and a first extended part. The first main part comprises a first main side, a second main side, a first sub side, a second sub side, and a first empty room. The first extended part can be stowed in the first empty room of the first main part, or it can be extended from the first main side of the first main part to increase the interior space of the modular architecture. The second main side of the first main part further has at least one connecting frame, and the first sub side or the second sub side can also have a side connecting frame. The first main part can be freely connected to other modular architectures via the connecting frame or the side connecting frame.
To achieve another abovementioned object, the modular architecture of the present invention comprises a first main part, a first extended part, a second main part, a second extended part, and a supporting assembly. The first main part comprises a first main side, a second main side, a first sub side, a second sub side, and a first empty room. The second main part is stacked on the first main part. The second main part comprises a third main side, a fourth main side, a third sub side, a fourth sub side, and a second empty room. The first extended part is connected to the first main side, and the second extended part is connected to the third main side.
The first extended part and the first main part can be arranged in either a stowed status or an extended status. In the stowed status, the first extended part is stowed in the first empty room; in the extended status, the first extended part is extended from the first main side. The second extended part and the second main part can be arranged in either a stowed status or an extended status. In the stowed status, the second extended part is stowed in the second empty room; in the extended status, the second extended part is extended from the third main side.
The supporting assembly is used for supporting the second main part or the second extended part. The supporting assembly comprises a plurality of pillars, a plurality of transverse struts, and a plurality of oblique struts.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings, which disclose several embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the drawings are to be used for purposes of illustration only, and not as a definition of the invention.
In the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views:
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More precisely, the first extended part 30 and the first main part 20 can be arranged in two implementations. The first implementation refers to a stowed status, as shown in
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Please note that the number and area of the connecting frames of the second main side 22 is not limited to the above description. For example, the second main side 22 can have only one or two connecting frames. Further, the connecting frame can be a large-sized connecting frame (as shown in
One of the preferred embodiments of utilizing the connecting frame to connect to the first architecture will be described hereinafter. Please refer to both
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The second main part 20′ is stacked on the first main part 20. The second main part 20′ comprises a third main side 21′, a fourth main side 22′, a third sub side 23′, a fourth sub side 24′, and a second empty room 25′. The second extended part 30′ is connected to the third main side 21′. In this embodiment, the first main side 21 and the third main side 21′ face opposite directions. That is, the first extended part 30 and the second extended part 30′ are extended along opposite directions. Because the structure of the second architecture 10′ is identical or similar to that of the first architecture 10, there is no need to describe the characteristics of the second architecture 10′ in detail.
The supporting assembly 80 is connected to the first main part 20 and the second main part 20′, and the supporting assembly 80 is used for supporting the second main part 20′ or the second extended part 30′.
In order to easily and stably stack the second architecture 10′ on the first architecture 10, the first main part 20 and the second main part 20′ respectively have a plurality of insertion grooves 28 (as shown in
In this embodiment, each insertion groove 28 is in the shape of a rectangle, and each pillar 82 is a square pillar. As shown in
Further, in order to make the modular architecture 1 more stable and durable, the supporting assembly 80 further comprises a plurality of transverse struts 84 and a plurality of oblique struts 86. One part of the transverse strut 84 is connected to the pillar 82, and the other outwardly extended part of the transverse strut 84 and its connected oblique strut 86 are used for supporting the second extended part 30′ (as shown in
Moreover, in order to avoid or reduce the inconvenience of land preparation, the modular architecture 1 further comprises a fixation board 90 and a plurality of stands 70. The fixation board 90 is directly laid on the ground, and the lower ends of the plurality of stands 70 are mounted to the fixation board 90. The plurality of stands 70 are used for supporting the first main part 20 or the first extended part 30. In the embodiment as shown in
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With regard to the modular architecture 1a of this embodiment, the first main side 21 of the first main part 20 and the third main side 21′ of the second main part 20′ face the same direction. That is, the first extended part 30 and the second extended part 30′ are extended along the same direction. Further, the positions of the transverse struts 84 and the oblique struts 86 of the supporting assembly 80 are slight different from those described in the previous embodiment. More precisely, the outwardly extended transverse struts 84 are located between the first extended part 30 and the second extended part 30′ at the extended status (as shown in
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Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. A modular architecture, comprising:
- a first main part, comprising: a first main side; a second main side; a first sub side; a second sub side; and a first empty room;
- and
- a first extended part, connected to the first main side, wherein the first extended part and the first main part are arranged in one of the following two statuses: a stowed status: wherein the first extended part is stowed in the first empty room; and an extended status: wherein the first extended part is extended from the first main side.
2. The modular architecture as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
- a second main part, stacked on the first main part, the second main part comprising: a third main side; a fourth main side; a third sub side; a fourth sub side; and a second empty room;
- a second extended part, connected to the third main side; and
- a supporting assembly, used for supporting the second main part or the second extended part;
- wherein the second extended part and the second main part are arranged in one of the following statuses: a stowed status: wherein the second extended part is stowed in the second empty room; and an extended status: wherein the second extended part is extended from the third main side.
3. The modular architecture as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first main part and the second main part respectively have a plurality of insertion grooves arranged in their corners.
4. The modular architecture as claimed in claim 3, wherein the supporting assembly comprises a plurality of pillars, where the plurality of pillars can be placed in the plurality of insertion grooves of the first main part or the second main part.
5. The modular architecture as claimed in claim 4, wherein the supporting assembly further comprises a plurality of transverse struts and a plurality of oblique struts.
6. The modular architecture as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a plurality of stands used for supporting the first main part or the first extended part.
7. The modular architecture as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a fixation board, wherein the plurality of stands are mounted to the fixation board.
8. The modular architecture as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first main side further comprises a first protruding part, and the first extended part further comprises a second protruding part, such that the first protruding part and the second protruding part can be wedged with each other when the first extended part is extended from the first main side.
9. The modular architecture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second main side further comprises at least one connecting frame.
10. The modular architecture as claimed in claim 9, wherein the connecting frame is connected to an assembly component.
11. The modular architecture as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first main part further comprises at least one side connecting frame disposed to the first sub side or the second sub side.
12. The modular architecture as claimed in claim 9, wherein the total area of the at least one connecting frame is larger than three-fourths of the total area of the second main side.
13. The modular architecture as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
- a third main part; and
- a connecting body with a passageway, allowing the second main part to be flexibly connected to the first main part.
14. The modular architecture as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an oil hydraulic device, wherein the oil hydraulic device drives the first extended part to move along the first main part from the stowed status to the extended status.
15. The modular architecture as claimed in claim 2 further comprising:
- a third main part; and
- a connecting body with a passageway, allowing the second main part to be flexibly connected to the first main part.
16. The modular architecture as claimed in claim 2 further comprising an oil hydraulic device, wherein the oil hydraulic device drives the first extended part to move along the first main part from the stowed status to the extended status.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 2, 2010
Publication Date: Sep 8, 2011
Inventor: Hsu-Hua Huang (Tainan City)
Application Number: 12/715,439
International Classification: E04H 1/02 (20060101);