MODULAR EXTERIOR BUILDING
A modular exterior building assembly comprising a plurality of non-insulated panels including at least one front wall panel, at least one rear wall panel, at least two side wall panels and at least one roof panel. Each of the non-insulated panels includes beams having rotating hooks and/or pins therein. The hooks are configured to be rotated to engage the pins in adjacent beams of adjacent non-insulated panels to connect the non-insulated panels together to form the modular exterior building.
This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/547 096, filed Oct. 14, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a modular exterior building.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONHeretofore, exterior buildings (e.g., sheds) have been built to be positioned near homes and businesses. The exterior buildings have been difficult to build and/or are shipped in large pre-assembled states.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn view of the above, one object of the invention is to provide an exterior building that is easy to ship and assemble.
In this regard, the present invention includes providing a modular exterior building assembly comprising a plurality of non-insulated panels including at least one front wall panel, at least one rear wall panel, at least two side wall panels and at least one roof panel. Each of the non-insulated panels include beams having rotating hooks and/or pins therein. The hooks are configured to be rotated to engage the pins in adjacent beams of adjacent non-insulated panels to connect the non-insulated panels together to form the modular exterior building.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a modular exterior building comprising a plurality of non-insulated panels including at least one front wall panel, at least one rear wall panel, at least two side wall panels and at least one roof panel. Each of the non-insulated panels include beams having rotating hooks and/or pins therein. The hooks engage pins in adjacent beams of adjacent non-insulated panels to connect the non-insulated panels together to form the modular exterior building, with the modular exterior building having side walls and an angled roof.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of forming a modular exterior building comprising providing a plurality of non-insulated panels including at least one front wall panel, at least one rear wall panel, at least two side wall panels and at least one roof panel. The method further includes providing each of the non-insulated panels with beams having rotating hooks and/or pins therein. The method also includes positioning each of the non-insulated panels adjacent to at least one other of the non-insulated panels and rotating the hooks to thereby engage the hooks with pins in adjacent beams of adjacent non-insulated panels to connect the non-insulated panels together to form the modular exterior building.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as orientated in
The reference number 10 (
The modular exterior building 10 is configured to be shipped in a compact state with the panels 11 disconnected. The panels 11 can then be easily connected to form the modular exterior building 10. All of the illustrated panels 11 are formed from beams 26 and plates 27.
The illustrated left floor panel 12a (
In the illustrated example, the left rear panel 14a (
The illustrated first side panels 16 (
The illustrated second side panels 18 (
In the illustrated example, the left front panel 20a (
The illustrated left front panel 20a is connected to the left floor panel 12a, the second side panel 18, the front top triangular panel 22b and the right front panel 20b. The lower beam 86 includes a hook 30 configured to engage the pin 29 in the front area 46 of the left floor panel 12a. The inside beam 88 includes a hook 30 configured to engage a pin 29 in an inside beam 88 of the right front panel 20b. The upper beam 92 includes a pair of hooks 30 configured to engage pins 29 in the front top triangular panel 22b. The rear side leg 104 of the outside L-shaped beam 94 includes a pair of hook receiving opening 28 with the pins 29 therein for receiving hooks 30 from the second side panel 18. The pair of hook receiving opening 28 with the pins 29 therein can be entirely within the rear side leg 104 to the inside of the outside leg 106 or at least partially covering a portion of the outside leg 106. The exterior plate 27 of the left front panel 20a is connected to front edges of the lower beam 86, the inside beam 88, the center beam pair 90, the upper beam 92, the outside L-shaped beam 94, the top entryway beam 96, and the spanning beam 98. The right front panel 20b is connected to the right floor panel 12b and forms a portion of the front of the side wall 13. The right front panel 20b is also configured to be connected to the left front panel 20a, the front top triangular panel 22b, and the first side panel 16.
In the illustrated example, an entry way 108 is formed into the exterior modular building 10 below the top entryway beams 96 of the left front panel 20a and the right front panel 20b, to the inside of the center beam pairs 90 of the left front panel 20a and the right front panel 20b, and above the front areas 46 of the left floor panel 12a and the right front panel 12b (see
The illustrated rear top triangular panel 22a (
In the illustrated example, the left roof panel 24a (
The illustrated left roof panel 24a and right roof panel 24b each include a top vertical inside beam 122, a bottom vertical outside beam 124, a front angled beam 126 and a rear angled beam 128. The top vertical inside beam 122, the bottom vertical outside beam 124, the front angled beam 126 and the rear angled beam 128 substantially form a rectangle. The top vertical inside beam 122 and the bottom vertical outside beam 124 are substantially parallel. Likewise, the front angled beam 126 and the rear angled beam 128 are substantially parallel. The top vertical inside beam 122 of the left roof panel 24a includes a plurality of hooks 30 configured to engage pins 29 in pin openings 28 of the top vertical inside beam 122 of the right roof panel 24b. The bottom vertical outside beam 124, the front angled beam 126 and the rear angled beam 128 in the illustrated embodiment do not include any hooks 30 or pins 29.
The illustrated left roof panel 24a and right roof panel 24b each include a rear connection beam 130 extending between the top vertical inside beam 122 and the bottom vertical outside beam 124 adjacent the rear angled beam 128. The rear connection beam 130 includes a pair of pin openings 28 with pins 29 therein configured to accept hooks 30 of the rear top triangular panel 22a. The pins 29 of the rear connection beam 130 of the left roof panel 24a are configured to be connected to hooks 30 of the left side angled beam 116 of the rear top triangular panel 22a and the pins 29 of the rear connection beam 130 of the right roof panel 24b are configured to be connected to hooks 30 of the right side angled beam 118 of the rear top triangular panel 22a. Likewise, the illustrated left roof panel 24a and right roof panel 24b each include a front connection beam 132 extending between the top vertical inside beam 122 and the bottom vertical outside beam 124 adjacent the front angled beam 126. The front connection beam 132 includes a pair of pin openings 28 with pins 29 therein configured to accept hooks 30 of the front top triangular panel 22b. The pins 29 of the front connection beam 132 of the left roof panel 24a are configured to be connected to hooks 30 of the left side angled beam 116 of the front top triangular panel 22b and the pins 29 of the front connection beam 132 of the right roof panel 24b are configured to be connected to hooks 30 of the right side angled beam 118 of the front top triangular panel 22b. Furthermore, the illustrated left roof panel 24a and right roof panel 24b each include an outside connection beam 133 extending between the front angled beam 126 and the rear angled beam 128 adjacent the bottom vertical outside beam 124 adjacent the front angled beam 126. The outside connection beam 133 includes a plurality of pin openings 28 with pins 29 therein configured to accept hooks 30 of the first side panel 16 and the second side panel 18.
In the illustrated example, the left roof panel 24a and right roof panel 24b can also include a plurality of front to rear extending supports 134 extending between the front angled beam 126 and the rear angled beam 128 for support. The left roof panel 24a and right roof panel 24b can further include a plurality of side to side extending supports 136 extending from the top vertical inside beam 122 to the bottom vertical outside beam 124 and/or the outside connection beam 133.
A lower outside area of the left roof panel 24a and right roof panel 24b extends outside a footprint of the side walls 13 of the modular exterior building 10 as illustrated in
The illustrated modular exterior building 10 includes a plurality of panels 11 that are easily shipped and then assembled using the hooks 30 and pins 29 in the beams 26. The roof 15 is angled and/or includes exterior roofing materials (e.g., shingles or a metal (e.g., aluminum) panel 17) thereon to protect the interior of the modular exterior building 10 from outside elements (e.g., rain or snow). While hooks 30 and pins 29 are shown in particular locations in the beams of the panels, the locations thereof could be moved. Additionally, more or less hook and pin combinations could be used. Moreover, the positions of the hooks and pins on adjacent beams can be flipped such that pins are substituted for hooks and hooks are substituted for pins in the beams described above.
Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes. For example, the modular exterior building 10 could have any plan configuration (e.g., rectangular, hexagonal, oval, any curves or straight shaped or any combination thereof). It will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A modular exterior building assembly comprising:
- a plurality of non-insulated panels including at least one front wall panel, at least one rear wall panel, at least two side wall panels and at least one roof panel;
- each of the non-insulated panels including beams having rotating hooks and/or pins therein;
- the hooks being configured to be rotated to engage the pins in adjacent beams of adjacent non-insulated panels to connect the non-insulated panels together to form a modular exterior building.
2. The modular exterior building assembly according to claim 1, wherein:
- the plurality of non-insulated panels further includes at least one floor panel.
3. The modular exterior building assembly according to claim 2, wherein:
- the at least one floor panel comprises two floor panels;
- the at least one front wall panel comprises two front wall panels and a front triangular panel;
- the at least one rear wall panel comprises two rear wall panels and a rear triangular panel;
- the at least two side wall panels comprise a pair of first side wall panels and a pair of second side wall panels; and
- the at least one roof panel comprises two roof panels.
4. The modular exterior building assembly according to claim 3, wherein:
- the two roof panels are configured to be engaged with each other at an angle to form an angled roof for the modular exterior building.
5. The modular exterior building assembly according to claim 1, wherein:
- the beams are formed of wood.
6. The modular exterior building assembly according to claim 5, wherein:
- the at least one roof panel includes an exterior metal sheet for protection against moisture falling onto the modular exterior building assembly from entering the modular exterior building assembly.
7. A modular exterior building comprising:
- a plurality of non-insulated panels including at least one front wall panel, at least one rear wall panel, at least two side wall panels and at least one roof panel;
- each of the non-insulated panels including beams having rotating hooks and/or pins therein;
- the hooks engaging pins in adjacent beams of adjacent non-insulated panels to connect the non-insulated panels together to form the modular exterior building, with the modular exterior building having side walls and an angled roof.
8. The modular exterior building according to claim 7, wherein:
- the plurality of non-insulated panels further includes at least one floor panel.
9. The modular exterior building according to claim 8, wherein:
- the at least one floor panel comprises two floor panels;
- the at least one front wall panel comprises two front wall panels and a front triangular panel;
- the at least one rear wall panel comprises two rear wall panels and a rear triangular panel;
- the at least two side wall panels comprise a pair of first side wall panels and a pair of second side wall panels; and
- the at least one roof panel comprises two roof panels.
10. The modular exterior building according to claim 9, wherein:
- the two roof panels are engaged with each other at an angle to form an angled roof for the modular exterior building.
11. The modular exterior building according to claim 8, wherein:
- the beams are formed of wood.
12. The modular exterior building according to claim 11, wherein:
- the at least one roof panel includes an exterior metal sheet for protection against moisture falling onto the modular exterior building from entering the modular exterior building.
13. A method of forming a modular exterior building comprising:
- providing a plurality of non-insulated panels including at least one front wall panel, at least one rear wall panel, at least two side wall panels and at least one roof panel;
- providing each of the non-insulated panels including beams having rotating hooks and/or pins therein;
- positioning each of the non-insulated panels adjacent to at least one other of the non-insulated panels;
- rotating the hooks to thereby engage the hooks with pins in adjacent beams of adjacent non-insulated panels to connect the non-insulated panels together to form the modular exterior building.
14. The method of forming the modular exterior building according to claim 13, wherein:
- the plurality of non-insulated panels further includes at least one floor panel.
15. The method of forming the modular exterior building according to claim 14, wherein:
- the at least one floor panel comprises two floor panels;
- the at least one front wall panel comprises two front wall panels and a front triangular panel;
- the at least one rear wall panel comprises two rear wall panels and a rear triangular panel;
- the at least two side wall panels comprise a pair of first side wall panels and a pair of second side wall panels; and
- the at least one roof panel comprises two roof panels.
16. The method of forming the modular exterior building according to claim 15, further including:
- engaging the two roof panels with each other at an angle to form an angled roof for the modular exterior building.
17. The method of forming the modular exterior building according to claim 13, wherein:
- the beams are formed of wood.
18. The method of forming the modular exterior building according to claim 17, wherein:
- the at least one roof panel includes an exterior metal sheet for protection against moisture falling onto the modular exterior building assembly entering the modular exterior building.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 2, 2012
Publication Date: Apr 18, 2013
Applicant: AMERICAN COOLER TECHNOLOGIES CORP. (Lawrence, MI)
Inventor: AMERICAN COOLER TECHNOLOGIES CORP. (Lawrence, MI)
Application Number: 13/633,582
International Classification: E04B 1/19 (20060101); E04B 1/26 (20060101); E04B 1/00 (20060101);