US20040244309A1

US20040244309A1 - Modular construction system

Info

Publication number: US20040244309A1
Application number: US10/493,477
Authority: US
Inventors: Kristian Raue
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-26
Filing date: 2002-10-23
Publication date: 2004-12-09
Also published as: DE10152979A1; EP1438113A1; WO2003037470A1

Abstract

A modular construction system comprises sheet-like elements (1). The above comprise slots (2), the width of which is equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet-like elements (1). The slots (2) may be embodied as double slots. It is also possible to add horizontal floor elements.

Description

This invention relates to a modular construction system according to the preamble of

claim

1, and the associated construction parts.

Various forms of modular construction systems already exist. One modular construction system envisages the use of sheet-like elements. One of the problems associated with this lies in the means used to connect the sheet-like elements to create the desired construction.

Hence this invention is based on the task of creating a modular construction system of the above-mentioned type with a simple means of connecting the sheet-like elements.

The technical solution is characterised by the features in the distinguishing section of

claim

1.

The result is a modular construction system using sheet-like elements which are very easy to put together. The basic principle comprises a push-together system for assembling the sheet-like elements. The slots in any one sheet-like element engage in the corresponding slots in any second sheet-like element. With these specially contrived, flat, sheet-like elements it is therefore possible to create a construction set which permits the assembly of a great variety of structures. The modular construction system can be used for play purposes.

According to the development in

claim

2, the sheet-like elements are either straight or curved. This creates a building set which can be used to assemble a great variety of structures.

The development according to

claim

3 proposes a special arrangement of the slots. As a general rule, the sheet-like elements extend in a horizontal direction. Insofar as the slots extend in a perpendicular direction, as in this development, the construction can easily be built in a vertical direction.

To permit the use of the sheet-like elements for universal constructions, a slot is provided at both ends of the sheet-like element on one longitudinal side, in line with the development in

claim

4.

Insofar as slots are only provided on one longitudinal side of the sheet-like elements, the latter may serve as the top and final part of the construction. The development according to claim 5 proposes that a slot is provided at both ends and on both longitudinal sides of the sheet-like elements. This permits the assembly of constructions of any height.

A preferred development according to claim 6 proposes that a second matching slot be provided adjacent to the slot. This creates a double-slot system. The advantage of this is that it allows an additional wall element to be attached adjacent to an existing wall element by using the adjacent slot of the double-slot system for the second wall. This allows the option of assembling very large constructions.

As an alternative to a perpendicular arrangement of the slots, the development according to claim 7 proposes the slots be arranged in sloping fashion. This provides a means of creating sloping surfaces, and, in particular, roofs in the construction of buildings.

A preferred development of the modular construction system of the invention proposes according to claim 8 that a slot be contrived within the sheet-like element, into which a second sheet-like element can be inserted at right angles to the sheet-like element with the slot. This creates the additional option of providing constructions with floor elements. It is not necessary, however, to provide all the sheet-like elements of this construction with such a slot, but only those sheet-like elements located in the area of the floor under construction. These slots are preferably located in the centre of the sheet-like element, i.e. the slot defines a kind of opening in the sheet-like element. This height of this slot is either equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet-like element to be inserted. This provides, in a technically simple way, an all-purpose construction for creating floors.

The development according to claim 9 proposes a specific technical realisation. The basic idea consists of arranging two floor elements next to each other and positioning a supporting floor element underneath and to the centre of the latter two floor elements. All that is required, however, is to start by inserting the first floor element towards the centre and then move its crosswise onto the upper level. Exactly the same thing happens on the other side with the second floor element. It, too, is then located on the upper level. Finally, a third floor element is inserted, by way of support, into the centre section and hence into the lower level.

The fact that the central floor supporting element lies underneath the actual floor elements is the object of the development in claim 10.

The advantage of the development according to claim 11 is that it allows the floor elements to be easily moved from the lower level to the upper level.

An example of an embodiment of a modular construction system according to the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, which show: [0016]
FIG. 1 to [0017] 6 various sheet-like elements for the modular construction system;
FIG. 7 a construction assembled from the sheet-like elements; [0018]
FIG. 8 the construction of FIG. 7 at a later stage of building; [0019]
FIG. 9 the view after inserting an intermediate floor; [0020]
FIG. 10[0021] a to 10 e various stages involved in inserting the intermediate floor in FIG. 9.
FIGS. [0022] 1 to 6 show various embodiments of sheet-like elements 1.
FIG. 1 shows a sheet-[0023] like element 1 in the shape of an elongated rectangle, with slots in the form of double slots contrived in the four corner portions in the longitudinal sides. FIG. 2 shows a similar sheet-like element 1, with slots 2 contrived as individual slots. FIG. 3 shows the sheet-like element 1 of FIG. 1, although it is only half the height. Furthermore—as can be seen in FIG. 3—only one longitudinal side is provided with the above-described double slots. FIG. 4 shows the sheet-like element 1 with single slots similar to the sheet-like element in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 shows the sheet-like element 1 of FIG. 1, but with an additional horizontal slot 3 which will be explained in more detail below. Finally, FIG. 6 shows a construction part with sloping slots 2 contrived in its top area.
FIG. 7 shows a construction assembled out of the previously described sheet-[0024] like elements 1. The basic principle is that two sheet-like elements 1 to be connected with each other engage with each other by means of their slots 2. When using the double-slot system of FIG. 1, wide walls can be created—as shown—by using the second slot 2 of the double slot for the connecting wall. FIG. 8 shows the assembled structure at another stage, especially when roof elements are added as well using the sheet-like elements 1 of FIG. 6.
FIGS. 9 and 10 show the system when a horizontal floor is also added. This is done using the sheet-[0025] like elements 1 of FIG. 5. The horizontal slot 3 in sheet-like element 1 of FIG. 5 is divided into different sections. In the middle section, slot 3 is equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet-like element 1 to be inserted into it. Adjacent to this, moving towards the outside, there is a section of which the height is equal to or slightly greater than the double thickness of the sheet-like element 1 to be inserted into it. Finally, right at the outside, there is a section of which the thickness is again equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet-like element to be inserted into it. The bottom edge of slot 2 runs into the outside section via a slope 4 which rises upwards as it points outwards. Overall, slot 3 defines a system with two levels.
The floor functions as follows: [0026]
Whilst FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the finished floor, FIGS. 10[0027] a to e show the sequence in which the individual floor elements are added. In FIG. 10a, a sheet-like element 1 such as the one shown in FIG. 2 is inserted. It is inserted into the centre section of slot 3 until slot 2 of the inserted sheet-like element 1 is at the same level as slot 3. This ensures that the sheet-like element 1 can be moved towards the left, as shown in FIG. 10b. The inside gap between adjacent slots 2 is such that the entire sheet-like element 1 can be moved up to the upper level. A second sheet-like element 1 is then inserted into the centre section in the same way, as shown in FIG. 10c and subsequently moved to the right as illustrated in FIG. 10d. This second sheet-like element 1 is then also located on the upper level. Finally, a third sheet-like element 1 is inserted, again into the centre section, as shown in FIG. 10e. This serves as a support for the first two sheet-like elements 1.
Reference Numerals [0028]
[0029] 1 sheet-like element
[0030] 2 slot
[0031] 3 slot
slope [0032]

Claims

1. A modular construction system with sheet-like elements (1), characterised in that the sheet-like elements (1) have slots (2), the width of which is equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet-like elements (1).

2. The modular construction system of the preceding claim characterised in that the sheet-like elements (1) are straight or curved.

3. The modular construction system of claims 1 or 2 characterised in that the slots (2) extend perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sheet-like elements (1).

4. The modular construction system of claim 3 characterised in that a slot (2) is provided at both ends of the sheet-like element (1) on one longitudinal side.

5. The modular construction system of claim 4 characterised in that a slot (2) is provided at both ends and on both longitudinal sides.

6. The modular construction system of claim 4 or 5 characterised in that a second matching slot (2) is provided next to slot (2).

7. The modular construction system of claim 1 or 2 characterised in that slots (2) extend along a slope with respect to the longitudinal direction of the sheet-like element (1).

8. The modular construction system of one of the preceding claims characterised in that within the sheet-like element (1) there is a slot (3) into which a second sheet-like element (1) is inserted perpendicular to the surface of the first sheet-like element (1) with slot (3).

9. The modular construction system of claim 8 characterised in that slot (3) has a centre section in which the height of slot (3) is equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet-like element (1) to be inserted, and two adjacent sections in which the height of slot (3) is double as big or slightly bigger than the size of the sheet-like element (1) to be inserted, and two outer sections in which the height of slot (3) is equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet-like element (1) to be inserted.

10. The modular construction system of claim 9 characterised in that in slot (3) the centre section forms part of a lower level.

11. The modular construction system of claim 8 or 9 characterised in that the transition between the adjacent section and the outer section takes the form of a slope.