SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONSTRUCTING TEMPORARY, RE-LOCATABLE STRUCTURES
A system and method for constructing a temporary structure is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of wall panels, a plurality of roof panels, a plurality of floor panels, at least one door panel, and each wall panel, roof panel, floor panel, and door panel comprising at least one edge coupled to a first track and at least one edge coupled to a second track. The first track has a first surface with an indentation and a flat second surface. The second track has an angled hemmed tab extending therefrom that is adapted to mate with the indentation of the first track and a straight hemmed tab extending therefrom that is adapted to abut the flat second surface of the first track.
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional Application Ser. No. 61/489748, filed May 25, 2011, entitled “Systems and Methods for Constructing Temporary, Re-locatable Structures,” which is hereby specifically and entirely incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to systems and methods of constructing temporary or re-locatable structures and, in particular, systems and methods of constructing temporary structures to be energy efficient using insulated panels.
2. Background of the Invention
Global warming, high energy costs, lack of reusable sources of energy, and diminishing resources of fossil fuels are all reasons, among others, to improve the energy efficiency of structures. Traditional temporary structures, such as tents, collapsible fabric or metal structures, or plastic structures, are usually energy inefficient, losing hot and/or cool air though the various surfaces, walls, roofs, windows, doors, gaps, and other components.
In order to improve the energy efficiency of these temporary buildings it is often necessary to retrofit the building with energy efficient materials, for example with spray-on insulation. Such upgrading is costly, time consuming, and can ruin the structure or re-locatable. Furthermore, existing temporary structures often are difficult to assemble, having multiple parts that must be sorted, organized and installed.
Therefore, it is desirable to have systems and methods of constructing a temporary structure that is cost effective, easy to install, and provides energy efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention overcomes the problems and disadvantages associated with current strategies and designs and provides new systems and methods of constructing temporary or re-locatable structures.
A system and method for constructing a temporary or re-locatable structure is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of side panels and a plurality of roof and floor panels and a plurality of a first track and a plurality of a second track, the first track having an indentation and the second track having a hemmed tab that is adapted to mate with the indentation of the first track. Each side panel has a first edge coupled to a first track and a second, parallel edge coupled to a second track, while each roof and floor panel has two edges coupled to two first tracks and two edges coupled to two second tracks.
Other embodiments and advantages of the invention are set forth in part in the description, which follows, and in part, may be obvious from this description, or may be learned from the practice of the invention.
The invention is described in greater detail by way of example only and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
As embodied and broadly described herein, the disclosures herein provide detailed embodiments of the invention. However, the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Therefore, there is no intent that specific structural and functional details should be limiting, but rather the intention is that they provide a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
A problem in the art capable of being solved by the embodiments of the present invention is constructing a temporary, re-locatable structure that is energy efficiency. It has been surprisingly discovered that by using interlocking brackets and insulating panels an energy efficient temporary structure can be constructed more easily and quickly than a traditional temporary structure.
In the preferred embodiment, each of the components of the temporary structure is manufactured off-site, and then the components are delivered to the site of the temporary structure where they are assembled. Preferably, the temporary structure can be assembled and disassembled with minimum effort and tools. Furthermore, the components can be reused so that the structure is re-locatable. Preferably, during assembly, each fastener is installed either from the inside of the structure or from the roof of the structure.
Other embodiments and uses of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. All references cited herein, including all publications, U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications, are specifically and entirely incorporated by reference. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered exemplary only with the true scope and spirit of the invention indicated by the following claims. Furthermore, the term “comprising” includes the terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of,” and the terms comprising, including, and containing are not intended to be limiting.
Claims
1. A system for constructing a temporary structure, comprising:
- a plurality of wall panels;
- a plurality of roof panels;
- a plurality of floor panels;
- at least one door panel; and
- one or more wall panel, roof panel, floor panel and door panel comprising at least one edge coupled to a first track and at least one edge coupled to a second track;
- wherein the first track has a first surface with an indentation and a flat second surface; and
- wherein the second track has an angled hemmed tab extending therefrom that is adapted to mate with the indentation of the first track and a straight hemmed tab extending therefrom that is adapted to abut the flat second surface of the first track.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fasteners, wherein each fastener is adapted to couple at least two of a wall panel, a roof panel, a floor panel, and a door panel.
3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of coupling devices.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein at least one coupling device is adapted to couple a wall panel to a floor panel.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein at least one coupling device is adapted to couple a wall panel to a roof panel.
6. The system of claim 3, wherein at least one coupling device is adapted to couple two wall panels perpendicularly.
7. The system of claim 3, further comprising at least one roof support beam, wherein the coupling device is adapted to couple two wall panels and a roof support beam.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wall panels, the roof panels, the floor panels, and the at least one door panel are identical.
9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a coating on the surface of at least one panel.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein each wall panel, roof panel, floor panel, and door panel has two first tracks and two second tracks.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the two first tracks are coupled adjacent to each other and the two second tracks are coupled adjacent to each other.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to be assembled and disassembled into the original components on location.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the system is adapted to be re-located and reassembled after being disassembled.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first track and the second track are coupled to parallel edges.
15. The system of claim 1, further comprising adhesive to adjoin panels.
16. A structure, comprising:
- a plurality of wall panels;
- a plurality of roof panels;
- a plurality of floor panels;
- at least one door panel; and
- one or more wall panel, roof panel, floor panel, and door panel comprising at least one edge coupled to a first track and at least one edge coupled to a second track;
- wherein the first track has a first surface with an indentation and a flat second surface; and
- wherein the second track has an angled hemmed tab extending therefrom that is adapted to mate with the indentation of the first track and a straight hemmed tab extending therefrom that is adapted to abut the flat second surface of the first track.
17. The structure of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of fasteners, wherein each fastener couples at least two of a wall panel, a roof panel, a floor panel, and a door panel.
18. The structure of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of coupling devices.
19. The structure of claim 18, wherein at least one coupling device couples a wall panel to a floor panel.
20. The structure of claim 18, wherein at least one coupling device couples a wall panel to a roof panel.
21. The structure of claim 18, wherein at least one coupling device couples two wall panels perpendicularly.
22. The structure of claim 18, further comprising at least one roof support beam, wherein the coupling device couples two wall panels and a roof support beam.
23. The structure of claim 16, wherein the wall panels, the roof panels, the floor panels, and the at least one door panel are identical.
24. The structure of claim 16, further comprising a coating on the surface of at least one panel.
25. The structure of claim 16, wherein each wall panel, roof panel, floor panel, and door panel has two first tracks and two second tracks.
26. The structure of claim 25, wherein the two first tracks are coupled adjacent to each other and the two second tracks are coupled adjacent to each other.
27. The structure of claim 16, wherein the structure is disassemblable into the original components.
28. The structure of claim 27, wherein the structure is re-locatable and reassemblable.
29. The structure of claim 16, wherein the first track and the second track are coupled to parallel edges.
30. The structure of claim 16, further comprising adhesive between adjoining panels.
31. A panel, comprising:
- a first track coupled to at least one edge of the panel; and
- a second track coupled to at least one other edge of the panel;
- wherein the first track has a first surface with an indentation and a flat second surface; and
- wherein the second track has an angled hemmed tab extending therefrom that is adapted to mate with the indentation of the first track and a straight hemmed tab extending therefrom that is adapted to abut the flat second surface of the first track.
Type: Application
Filed: May 25, 2012
Publication Date: Nov 29, 2012
Inventor: James G. Quinn (Arnold, MD)
Application Number: 13/481,442
International Classification: E04B 1/343 (20060101); E04B 1/38 (20060101); E04G 21/00 (20060101);