Interactive building module

Abstract

A building module is disclosed which moves between a collapsed configuration, where it is sized and shaped similarly to a standard shipping container, and an erected configuration where it forms a building of greater space. Braced panels are hinged to form walls in the collapsed configuration and floors or ceilings in the erected configuration. The modules may be connected together to form a single storied or multistoried building.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority to, co-pending application Ser. No. 11 / 143,877, filed Jun. 2, 2005, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09 / 937,278, filed Sep. 24, 2002 as a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT / AU00 / 00240, filed on Mar. 23, 2000, which claims priority to Australian PP 9408, filed Mar. 23, 1999. This application also claims priority to Australian provisional patent application No. 2007902634, filed May 17, 2007.[0002]The Australian provisional patent application No. 2007902634, the Ser. No. 11 / 143,877 application, the Ser. No. 09 / 937,278 application, the PCT / AU00 / 00240 application, and the Australian PP 9408 application are each incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]This invention relates to interactive building modules and refers particularly, though not exclusively, to interactive building modules capable of flexible multipurpose use and arrangement ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]The inventive concept, in its various aspects, is inspired by the fundamental realisation that use of existing building structures is associated with high capital costs and low utilisation rates. It is also reflects a desire to produce buildings which can be readily transported, including to remote locations.

[0016]Accordingly, the invention, in various aspects, preferably proposes multiple building structures built of modular components, in which the resulting building structures are fabricated for construction involving reduced capital costs, and multi-purpose usage.

[0017]According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a transportable and stackable modular building unit including a floor panel, side wall panels and a ceiling or roof panel, the panels being arranged and dimensioned to form a shipping container in which the ceiling or roof panel is supported above the floor panel by the side wall panels for transportation by a containerised shipping network, and wherein at least one of the side wall panels of the modular building unit is a movable panel removably or hingedly connected to the floor panel or to the ceiling or roof panel and movable to create additional building space adjacent the space formed by the other panels of said modular building unit. The advantages of such a construction include that building modules can be readily transported using existing infrastructure.

Problems solved by technology

Technological development and subsequent global economic and social change have made employment an important issue.

Some methods, such as traditional brick-and-mortar construction, are labour-intensive processes.

The energy expended during construction and assembly results in high levels of greenhouse emissions.

Images