EXPANDABLE BUILDING SYSTEMS
The present disclosure describes an expandable residential dwelling unit and a set of modular, prefabricated components which can be built offsite, shipped to site, and assembled. The prefabricated components and expandable dwelling unit enable faster, and more cost effective method for adding additional square footage onto a residential dwelling unit. These prefabricated wall components attach to the existing dwelling unit via mechanical connections that maintain a constant thermal and water barrier. Multiple preferred aspects are described herein.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of the earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/424,513, filed on Nov. 20, 2016, entitled EXPANDABLE BUILDING SYSTEM, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/323,655, filed on Apr. 16, 2016, entitled REMOVABLE AND RE-ATTACHABLE ROOF SYSTEM FOR MODULAR RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION and U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/489,577, entitled REMOVABLE AND RE-ATTACHABLE ROOF SYSTEM FOR MODULAR RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION, now U.S. Publication No. 2017/0298614, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis specification generally relates to expandable building systems and more particularly to removable and re-attachable wall systems for modular structure construction that permits horizontal expansion.
BACKGROUNDIn the design and construction of structures, such as industrial warehouses, commercial buildings, and residential homes the builders and designers focus on the identified needs of the occupants and design and build a structure to meet their needs. While this type of design affords the occupants a structure that meets their currently identified requirements, overtime, the needs of the occupants change and the original design of the structures become obsolete.
With businesses and personal structures, it is often difficult to accurately plan and project for the future needs. Underbuilding to meet current financial needs of the occupants oftentimes results in the occupants requiring to move and obtain additional or new structures, while overbuilding can lead to increased costs of up keeping a facility and the possibility that the needs of the occupant will never expend to fully utilize the space. Thus, the current building methods involve a substantial amount of speculation and are often overbuilt for the current needs of the occupants.
When the occupants eventually outgrow their current structures, they oftentimes are required to look for additional buildings or structures. The process of purchasing additional real estate can be time consuming, difficult, and expensive depending on the market. For example, when a family “outgrows” a residential structure, they move to a different home with more square footage or a home with additional bedrooms. The moving process can be quite stressful, time intensive, and expensive. To prevent moving, some families add onto their existing home by adding an addition. Adding an addition onto an existing house is not easy; it's time consuming and costs the homeowner a significant sum of money.
Making an addition onto one's home is difficult, time intensive, and costly. This process is challenging because homes are not designed to be expanded on when initially constructed. Without knowing the structural capacity of the walls, the utilities located inside the walls, and without having a way to disassemble the walls without compromising the integrity of materials, adding onto one's home in the front, back, or side becomes a messy, burdensome process. Designing a residential structure with the intent of expanding horizontally can eliminate many of these steps, making the addition process much simpler.
Moreover, designing a dwelling unit using modular construction can reduce onsite construction time and costs and ensure better quality control in the building process. In addition, when using modular building techniques, the modular structures can easily and cost effectively be modified to meet the owners or occupants changing needs.
SUMMARYThis specification describes horizontally expandable building structures, for example, residential dwellings.
In one example, the present disclosure provides for the horizontal expansion of a residential dwelling by way of an expandable building system, comprised of a removable façade system, removable patch panels, and a quick connect expansion system. The expandability is achieved by building the original dwelling in a way that allows for specific walls to be removed without damage. Each of the aspects disclosed may have different means to achieve the same result of adding onto an existing dwelling without demolishing existing walls and reusing materials. The additions are made by attaching the new wall panels to the existing dwelling using either a compatible bracket or through the custom design of a structural insulated panel. In either case, a synthetic fabric weather barrier may be sandwiched between the existing dwelling wall and the new panel, then attached using bolts or other suitable means, described herein. This composition allows for a weather barrier to be continuous from the original module throughout the new additions.
In one example, a residential dwelling comprises a removable wall structure, or patch panels, that permits an addition to be added onto and additional structural unit. This expandability is achieved through a modular removable wall system that can be attached, removed, and reattached to the structure. The removable wall system is removable without compromising the structural capacity or performance and allows for the structural integrity of the structural unit to be maintained during the expansion process. The removable wall assembly may comprise additional wall panels, weather barrier, fascia, and patch panels which can be removed and reattached to the dwelling unit during a horizontal expansion. Once the additional wall panels are attached to the original dwelling, the insulation, weather barrier, fascia, and patch panels from the original dwelling's expandable wall structure are re-attached to the wall structure of the horizontal addition through the removable wall attachment system.
Various features and characteristics of an expandable building system, and more specifically a removable wall system, described in this specification may be more thoroughly understood by reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
The reader will appreciate the foregoing features and characteristics, as well as others, upon considering the following detailed description of the expandable building system according to this specification.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThis specification is generally directed to expandable building systems, and more specifically, removable wall systems for use with modular building structures. However, they are not limited to such extemporary environments.
Generally speaking, numerous aspects described throughout the specification can be used in the construction of modular structures, prefabricated structures, as well as site-built structures. The removable wall assembly can allow modular structures to grow and expand as well as contrast as the needs of the building owners/occupants change. In one aspect, the removable wall assembly may permit the expansion of a modular residential structure its current footprint to a larger horizontal footprint, for example a rear or side addition that permits additional square footage to be added to the residential structure. In addition, the removable wall assembly may permit a modular residential structure to be contracted and an addition removed, for example when a family is looking to downsize after the children have left the home.
In other aspects, the removable wall assembly may allow for the replacement of exterior walls on structures designed as permanent buildings. In one aspect, the removable wall assembly may allow a building owner to easily replace the wall structures of a building to update the structural aspects as well as the visual aspect of a building structure. For example, the removable wall assembly may allow for ease of replacing a building with a vinyl siding with one of a wooded siding, a siding of a different color, or another type of exterior appearance, such as brick, or stucco. The ease of removal and replacement with the removable wall assembly can reduce labor costs and replacement wall assemblies can be constructed offsite and shipped to the location of the building which can reduce the time and labor costs associated with replacing a roof structure. Additionally, the removable wall assembly also may facilitate the easy removal and replacement of walls as technology improves and more efficient building materials are produced, such as increased thermal resistivity materials to allow a structure to be more energy efficient or technological upgrades, such as smart panels having built-in electronic features.
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A removable wall assembly for attachment to an exterior wall of a housing unit. The housing unit comprises a first longitudinal wall portion and a second longitudinal wall portion. The first longitudinal wall portion and the second longitudinal wall portion are substantially parallel to one another. The first longitudinal wall portion and the second longitudinal wall portion define an opening therebetween. The opening defines an opening height and an opening width. The removable wall assembly is attached the housing unit and defines a wall structure to fill the opening between the first longitudinal wall portion and the second longitudinal wall portion. The removable wall assembly comprises a patch panel. The patch panel comprises a first vertical side and a second vertical side, wherein the first vertical side and the second vertical side are substantially parallel to one another. The patch panel further comprises a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein the bottom portion and the top portion are substantial parallel to one another. The first vertical side, the second vertical side, the bottom portion, and the top portion are connected to form the patch panel. The patch panel has a patch panel height, a patch panel width, and a patch panel thickness. The patch panel further comprises an attachment mechanism operable between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition. The first vertical side of the patch panel is configured to abut a portion of the first longitudinal wall portion when the patch panel is attached to the housing unit. The bottom potion of the patch panel is configured to abut a portion of a floor system of the housing unit when the patch panel is attached to the housing unit. The attachment mechanism is configured to releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit when the attachment mechanism is in the engaged condition.
Example 2The removable wall assembly of Example 1, wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to releasably attach the bottom portion of the patch panel to the floor system of the housing unit.
Example 3The removable wall assembly of Example 1, wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to releasably attach the first vertical side of the patch panel to the first longitudinal wall portion of the housing unit.
Example 4The removable wall assembly of Examples 1, 2, or 3, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a cam latch configured to cammingly engage a corresponding attachment portion of the housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit.
Example 5The removable wall assembly of Examples 1, 2, or 3, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a key latch, wherein the key latch is operable between an open condition and a locked condition, wherein the key latch is configured to engage a corresponding attachment portion of the housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit when the key latch is moved from the open condition to the locked condition.
Example 6The removable wall assembly of Examples 1, 2, or 3, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an attachment pin configured to engage a corresponding attachment portion of the housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit.
Example 7The removable wall assembly of Examples 1, 2, or 3, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an attachment fin configured to engage a corresponding attachment portion of the housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit.
Example 8The removable wall assembly of Examples 1, 2, or 3, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an attachment bracket configured releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit.
Example 9The removable wall assembly of Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8, wherein the patch panel defines a first patch panel and wherein the removable wall assembly further comprising a second patch panel. The second patch panel comprises a first vertical side and a second vertical side, wherein the first vertical side and the second vertical side of the second patch panel are substantially parallel to one another. The second patch panel further comprises a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein the bottom portion and the top portion of the second patch panel are substantial parallel to one another. The first vertical side, the second vertical side, the bottom portion, and the top portion of the second patch panel are connected to form the second patch panel. The second patch panel has a second patch panel height, a second patch panel width, and a second patch panel thickness. The second patch panel comprises a second attachment mechanism operable between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition. The first vertical side of the second patch panel is configured to abut the second vertical portion of the first patch panel when the first and second patch panels are attached to the housing unit. The second vertical side of the second patch panel is configured to abut a portion of the first longitudinal wall portion when the second patch panel is attached to the housing unit. The bottom potion of the second patch panel is configured to abut a portion of a floor system of the housing unit when the second patch panel is attached to the housing unit. The second attachment mechanism is configured to releasable attach the patch panel to the housing unit when the second attachment mechanism is in the engaged condition.
Example 10The removable wall assembly of Example 9, wherein the top portion of the first patch panel and the top portion of the second patch panel define a removable wall assembly width, and wherein the removable wall assembly width is substantially the same as the opening width.
Example 11A method for horizontally expanding a housing unit, comprising the removable wall assembly of Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10. The method comprises releasing the patch panel from the housing unit by moving the attachment mechanism from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition. The method further comprises removing the patch panel from the housing unit, installing a horizontal addition onto the housing unit, releasably attaching the addition to the housing unit, and reattaching the patch panel to the horizontal addition by moving the attachment mechanism from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition.
Example 12The method of Example 11, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a cam latch configured to cammingly engage a corresponding attachment portion of the housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit.
Example 13The method of Example 11, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a key latch, wherein the key latch is configured to be moved between an open condition and a locked condition, wherein the key latch is configured to engage a corresponding attachment portion of the housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit when the key latch is moved from the open condition to the locked condition.
Example 14The method of Example 11, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an attachment pin configured to engage a corresponding attachment portion of the housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit.
Example 15The method of Example 11, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an attachment fin configured to engage a corresponding attachment portion of the housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit.
Example 16The method of Example 11, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an attachment bracket configured releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit.
Example 17A patch panel, wherein the patch panel comprises a first vertical side and a second vertical side, wherein the first vertical side and the second vertical side are substantially parallel to one another. The patch panel further comprises a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein the bottom portion and the top portion are substantial parallel to one another. The first vertical side, the second vertical side, the bottom portion, and the top portion are connected to form the patch panel. The patch panel has a patch panel height, a patch panel width, and a patch panel thickness. The patch panel further comprises an attachment mechanism operable between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition. The first vertical side of the patch panel is configured to abut a portion of a wall portion of a modular housing unit when the patch panel is attached to the modular housing unit. The bottom potion of the patch panel is configured to abut a portion of a floor system of the modular housing unit when the patch panel is attached to the housing unit. The attachment mechanism is configured to releasable attach the patch panel to the modular housing unit when the attachment mechanism is in the engaged condition.
Example 18The patch panel of Example 17, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a cam latch configured to cammingly engage a corresponding attachment portion of a modular housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the modular housing unit.
Example 19The patch panel of Example 17, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a key latch, wherein the key latch is configured to be moved between an open condition and a locked condition, wherein the key latch is configured to engage a corresponding attachment portion of a modular housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the modular housing unit when the key latch is moved from the open condition to the locked condition.
Example 20The patch panel of Example 17, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an attachment pin configured to engage a corresponding attachment portion of a modular housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the modular housing unit.
Various features and characteristics of removable roof system are described in this specification and illustrated in the drawings to provide an overall understanding of the disclosed apparatus. It is understood that the various features and characteristics described in this specification and illustrated in the drawings can be combined in any suitable manner regardless of whether such features and characteristics are expressly described or illustrated in combination in this specification. The Inventors and the Applicant expressly intend such combinations of features and characteristics to be included within the scope of this specification. As such, the claims can be amended to recite, in any combination, any features and characteristics expressly or inherently described in, or otherwise expressly or inherently supported by, this specification. Furthermore, the Applicant reserves the right to amend the claims to affirmatively disclaim features and characteristics that may be present in the prior art, even if those features and characteristics are not expressly described in this specification. Therefore, any such amendments will not add new matter to the specification or claims, and will comply with written description, sufficiency of description, and added matter requirements (e.g., 35 U.S.C. § 112(a) and Article 123(2) EPC). The systems and methods described in this specification can comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the various features and characteristics described in this specification.
The examples presented herein are intended to illustrate potential and specific implementations of the present disclosure. It can be appreciated that the examples are intended primarily for purposes of illustration of the disclosure for those skilled in the art. No particular aspect of the examples are necessarily intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. For example, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the fasteners described herein (e.g., screws) may be replaced or supplemented by other suitable fastening means including a variety of other types of mechanical fastening devices (e.g., nails, rivets, magnets, or others). In another example, a particular choice of construction material (e.g., aluminum, plastic, steel, etc.) may be replaced or supplemented by another type of material which is suitable for the same or similar structure or function.
Any element expressed herein as a means for performing a specified function is intended to encompass any way of performing that function including, for example, a combination of elements that performs that function. Furthermore the disclosure, as may be defined by such means-plus-function claims, resides in the fact that the functionalities provided by the various recited means are combined and brought together in a manner as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, any means that can provide such functionalities may be considered equivalents to the means shown herein.
It will be appreciated that, for convenience and clarity of disclosure, terms describing relative orientation or spatial positioning such as “proximal,” “distal,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “up,” “down,” “top,” “front,” “back,” “bottom,” “upward,” or “downward” may be used at times herein with respect to the drawings and text description in association with various aspects of the disclosure. However, such terms are primarily used for illustrative purposes and are not necessarily intended to be limiting in nature.
It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present disclosure have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present disclosure, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, other elements. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, however, that these and other elements may be desirable. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein. It should be appreciated that the figures are presented for illustrative purposes and not as construction drawings. Omitted details and modifications or alternative aspects are within the purview of persons of ordinary skill in the art. For example, there may be variations to these diagrams or the operations described herein without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.
It can be appreciated that, in certain aspects of the present disclosure, a single component may be replaced by multiple components, and multiple components may be replaced by a single component, to provide an element or structure or to perform a given function or functions. Except where such substitution would not be operative to practice certain aspects of the present disclosure, such substitution is considered within the scope of the present disclosure.
While various aspects of the disclosure have been described herein, it should be apparent, however, that various modifications, alterations and adaptations to those aspects may occur to persons skilled in the art with the attainment of some or all of the advantages of the present disclosure. The disclosed aspects are therefore intended to include all such modifications, alterations and adaptations without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure as claimed.
Any patent, publication, or other disclosure material identified in this specification is incorporated by reference into this specification in its entirety unless otherwise indicated, but only to the extent that the incorporated material does not conflict with existing descriptions, definitions, statements, or other disclosure material expressly set forth in this specification. As such, and to the extent necessary, the express disclosure as set forth in this specification supersedes any conflicting material incorporated by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is incorporated by reference into this specification, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein, is only incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material. Applicant reserves the right to amend this specification to expressly recite any subject matter, or portion thereof, incorporated by reference.
The grammatical articles “one”, “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in this specification, are intended to include “at least one” or “one or more”, unless otherwise indicated. Thus, the articles are used in this specification to refer to one or more than one (i.e., to “at least one”) of the grammatical objects of the article. By way of example, “a component” means one or more components, and thus, possibly, more than one component is contemplated and can be employed or used in an implementation of the described processes, compositions, and products. Further, the use of a singular noun includes the plural, and the use of a plural noun includes the singular, unless the context of the usage requires otherwise.
Claims
1. A removable wall assembly for attachment to an exterior wall of a housing unit, wherein the housing unit comprises a first longitudinal wall portion and a second longitudinal wall portion, wherein the first longitudinal wall portion and the second longitudinal wall portion are substantially parallel to one another, wherein the first longitudinal wall portion and the second longitudinal wall portion define an opening therebetween, and wherein the opening defines an opening height and an opening width, and wherein the removable wall assembly is attached the housing unit and defines a wall structure to fill the opening between the first longitudinal wall portion and the second longitudinal wall portion, wherein the removable wall assembly comprises:
- a patch panel, wherein the patch panel comprises: a first vertical side; a second vertical side, wherein the first vertical side and the second vertical side are substantially parallel to one another; a bottom portion; a top portion, wherein the bottom portion and the top portion are substantial parallel to one another, wherein the first vertical side, the second vertical side, the bottom portion, and the top portion are connected to form the patch panel, and wherein the patch panel has a patch panel height, a patch panel width, and a patch panel thickness; and an attachment mechanism operable between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition;
- wherein the first vertical side of the patch panel is configured to abut a portion of the first longitudinal wall portion when the patch panel is attached to the housing unit, wherein the bottom potion of the patch panel is configured to abut a portion of a floor system of the housing unit when the patch panel is attached to the housing unit, and wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit when the attachment mechanism is in the engaged condition.
2. The removable wall assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to releasably attach the bottom portion of the patch panel to the floor system of the housing unit.
3. The removable wall assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to releasably attach the first vertical side of the patch panel to the first longitudinal wall portion of the housing unit.
4. The removable wall assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a cam latch configured to cammingly engage a corresponding attachment portion of the housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit.
5. The removable wall assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a key latch, wherein the key latch is operable between an open condition and a locked condition, wherein the key latch is configured to engage a corresponding attachment portion of the housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit when the key latch is moved from the open condition to the locked condition.
6. The removable wall assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an attachment pin configured to engage a corresponding attachment portion of the housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit.
7. The removable wall assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an attachment fin configured to engage a corresponding attachment portion of the housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit.
8. The removable wall assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an attachment bracket configured releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit.
9. The removable wall assembly of claim 1, wherein the patch panel defines a first patch panel and wherein the removable wall assembly further comprising a second patch panel, wherein the second patch panel comprises:
- a first vertical side;
- a second vertical side, wherein the first vertical side and the second vertical side of the second patch panel are substantially parallel to one another;
- a bottom portion;
- a top portion, wherein the bottom portion and the top portion of the second patch panel are substantial parallel to one another, wherein the first vertical side, the second vertical side, the bottom portion, and the top portion of the second patch panel are connected to form the second patch panel, and wherein the second patch panel has a second patch panel height, a second patch panel width, and a second patch panel thickness; and
- a second attachment mechanism operable between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition;
- wherein the first vertical side of the second patch panel is configured to abut the second vertical portion of the first patch panel when the first and second patch panels are attached to the housing unit, wherein the second vertical side of the second patch panel is configured to abut a portion of the first longitudinal wall portion when the second patch panel is attached to the housing unit wherein the bottom potion of the second patch panel is configured to abut a portion of a floor system of the housing unit when the second patch panel is attached to the housing unit, and wherein the second attachment mechanism is configured to releasable attach the patch panel to the housing unit when the second attachment mechanism is in the engaged condition.
10. The removable wall assembly of claim 9, wherein the top portion of the first patch panel and the top portion of the second patch panel define a removable wall assembly width, and wherein the removable wall assembly width is substantially the same as the opening width.
11. A method for horizontally expanding a housing unit, comprising the removable wall assembly of claim 1, wherein the method comprises:
- releasing the patch panel from the housing unit by moving the attachment mechanism from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition;
- removing the patch panel from the housing unit;
- installing a horizontal addition onto the housing unit;
- releasably attaching the addition to the housing unit; and
- reattaching the patch panel to the horizontal addition by moving the attachment mechanism from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a cam latch configured to cammingly engage a corresponding attachment portion of the housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a key latch, wherein the key latch is configured to be moved between an open condition and a locked condition, wherein the key latch is configured to engage a corresponding attachment portion of the housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit when the key latch is moved from the open condition to the locked condition.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an attachment pin configured to engage a corresponding attachment portion of the housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an attachment fin configured to engage a corresponding attachment portion of the housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an attachment bracket configured releasably attach the patch panel to the housing unit.
17. A patch panel, wherein the patch panel comprises:
- a first vertical side;
- a second vertical side, wherein the first vertical side and the second vertical side are substantially parallel to one another;
- a bottom portion;
- a top portion, wherein the bottom portion and the top portion are substantial parallel to one another, wherein the first vertical side, the second vertical side, the bottom portion, and the top portion are connected to form the patch panel, and wherein the patch panel has a patch panel height, a patch panel width, and a patch panel thickness; and
- an attachment mechanism operable between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition;
- wherein the first vertical side of the patch panel is configured to abut a portion of a wall portion of a modular housing unit when the patch panel is attached to the modular housing unit, wherein the bottom potion of the patch panel is configured to abut a portion of a floor system of the modular housing unit when the patch panel is attached to the housing unit, and wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to releasable attach the patch panel to the modular housing unit when the attachment mechanism is in the engaged condition.
18. The patch panel of claim 17, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a cam latch configured to cammingly engage a corresponding attachment portion of a modular housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the modular housing unit.
19. The patch panel of claim 17, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a key latch, wherein the key latch is configured to be moved between an open condition and a locked condition, wherein the key latch is configured to engage a corresponding attachment portion of a modular housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the modular housing unit when the key latch is moved from the open condition to the locked condition.
20. The patch panel of claim 17, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an attachment pin configured to engage a corresponding attachment portion of a modular housing unit and releasably attach the patch panel to the modular housing unit.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 20, 2017
Publication Date: May 24, 2018
Inventors: Brian Gaudio (Pittsburgh, PA), Drew Brisley (Pittsburgh, PA), Hallie Dumont (Pittsburgh, PA)
Application Number: 15/818,099