Modular building assembly

Abstract

A modular building assembly (12) comprises: a first modular building unit (14) comprising an internal volume (16), the first modular building unit having a base (154) and a footprint (18); and at least one further modular building unit (20) comprising an internal volume (22), said further modular building unit configured to be positioned on top of the first modular building unit overlying a first portion (24) of its footprint. The first modular building unit comprises a ceiling structure (342), the ceiling structure comprising: a first section (344) defining at least one first surface (348) configured to support said further modular building unit, said first surface disposed at a first height (H1) relative to the base; and a second section (346) positioned laterally relative to the first section overlying a further portion (27) of the footprint, the second section defining at least one second surface (350) disposed at a second height (H2) relative to the base which is greater than the first height, said second surface configured to support or define at least part of a floor (76) for an upper storey (36) of the building.

Claims

1. A modular building assembly configured to form at least part of a building, the modular building assembly comprising:a first modular building unit comprising an internal volume, the first modular building unit having a base and a footprint; andat least one further modular building unit comprising an internal volume, said further modular building unit configured to be positioned on top of the first modular building unit overlying a first portion of its footprint;in which the first modular building unit comprises a ceiling structure, the ceiling structure comprising:a first section defining at least one first surface configured to support said further modular building unit, said first surface disposed at a first height relative to the base; anda second section positioned laterally relative to the first section overlying a further portion of the footprint, the second section defining at least one second surface disposed at a second height relative to the base which is greater than the first height, said second surface configured to support or define at least part of a floor for an upper storey of the building.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the further modular building unit and the second sectionof the ceiling structure are configured so that they together overlie a majority of the footprint of the first modular building unit.

3. An assembly as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, in which the first modular building unit isconfigured to define at least part of an access route, the access route providing access from the first modular building unit to at least one of: a) the floor; and b) the internal volume of the further modular building unit.

4. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the first modular building unit comprises at least a main part of a staircase, and in which the second section of the ceiling structure comprises an aperture which communicates with the main part of the staircase in the first modular building unit.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, in which the floor comprises an aperture which communicates with the aperture in the ceiling structure, and with the main part of the staircase in the first modular building unit.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5, in which the floor is configured to define at least part of a landing, and the aperture opens adjacent to the landing.

7. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the first modular building unit comprises at least a main part of a staircase, and the further modular building unit comprises an aperture which communicates with the main part of the staircase in the first modular building unit when the further modular building unit is positioned on top of the first modular building unit.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7, in which the further modular building unit is configured to define at least part of a landing, and the aperture opens adjacent to the landing.

9. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the floor is configured to provide direct access into the internal volume of the further modular building unit.

10. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the second section of the first modular building unit is a raised section, the first modular building unit having a stepped profile, when viewed from the side.

11. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the second section of the ceiling structure extends in a generally horizontal plane and in a direction which is generally away from the first section of the ceiling structure.

12. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which:the further modular building unit is a second modular building unit;the further portion of the footprint of the first modular building unit which is overlaid by the second section of the ceiling structure is a second portion of the footprint; andthe modular building assembly comprises a third modular building unit comprising an internal volume; in which the at least one first surface of the first section of the ceiling structure is configured to support the third modular building unit;and in which the third modular building unit is configured to be positioned on top of the first modular building unit overlying a third portion of its footprint.

13. An assembly as claimed in claim 12, in which the second modular building unit, the third modular building unit and said second ceiling section are configured so that they together overlie a majority of the footprint of tire first modular building unit.

14. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which:the internal volume of the first modular building unit is configured to form at least part of at least one room of the building, the at least one room selected from the group comprising a hallway, a room comprising a wet facility, and a technical room; andthe internal volume of the at least one further modular building unit is configured to form at least part of at least one room of the building, the at least one room comprising a wet facility.

15. An assembly as claimed in claim 14, when dependent on claim 12, in which the second and third modular building units each comprise respective wet facilities.

16. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the first modular building unit comprises a perimeter, the perimeter comprising a plurality of perimeter portions, each perimeter portion disposed transverse to at least one other perimeter portion; andthe at least one further modular building unit is configured to overlap at least one perimeter portion of the first modular building unit.

17. An assembly as claimed in claim 16, in which:the at least one further modular building unit comprises a perimeter, the perimeter comprising a plurality of perimeter portions, each perimeter portion disposed transverse to at least one other perimeter portion; andthe at least one further modular building unit is configured to be positioned on top of the first modular building unit so that at least one perimeter portion of the further modular building unit is disposed laterally spaced from a corresponding perimeter portion of the first modular building unit.

18. An assembly as claimed in claim 17, in which said perimeter portion of the further modular building unit is disposed outboard of the footprint of the first modular building unit.

19. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the further modular building unit is adapted to overhang at least one perimeter portion of the first modular building unit, which perimeter portion defines a side of the first modular building unit.

20. An assembly as claimed in claim 19, in which the at least one further modular building unit is configured so that an overhanging portion of the further modular building unit forms at least part of a porch for a building comprising the modular building assembly.

21. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the at least one further modular building unit is configured to be positioned on top of the first modular building unit so that at least one perimeter portion of said further unit is disposed inboard of at least one perimeter portion of the first modular building unit.

22. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which:the first modular building unit and the at least one further modular building unit each comprise a main axis extending along a main length direction; andthe at least one further modular building is configured to be positioned on top of the first modular building unit so that the main axis of the at least one further modular building unit is disposed transverse to the main axis of the first modular building unit.

23. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which:the footprint of the first modular building unit is a first footprint;the at least one further modular building unit comprises a footprint, which is a second footprint of the modular building assembly; andthe second footprint is different to the first footprint.

24. An assembly as claimed in claim 23, in which:the second footprint has a different shape to the first footprint; and / orat least one dimension of the second footprint differs from a corresponding dimension of the first footprint.

25. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which:the first section of the ceiling structure comprises a plurality of first surfaces disposed at the first height; andthe second section of the ceiling structure comprises a plurality of second surfaces disposed at the second height.

26. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which:said second surface of the second section of the ceiling structure is a floor support surface;the at least one further modular building unit comprises a floor support surface configured to support a floor of said unit; andthe second section of the ceiling structure and the at least one further modular building unit are configured so that their floor support surfaces are disposed at the second height.

27. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 25, in which:said second surface of the second section of the ceiling structure defines the floor, and said second surface is an upper surface of the floor;the at least one further modular building unit comprises at least one floor support surface configured to support a floor of the unit; andthe second section of the ceiling structure and the at least one further modular building unit are configured so that their respective at least one second surface and at least one floor support surface are disposed at the second height.

28. A building system comprising a first building section and a second building section, the first and second building sections together configured to form at least part of a building, in which the second building section comprises a modular building assembly, the modular building assembly comprising:a first modular building unit comprising an internal volume, the first modular building unit having a base and a footprint; andat least one further modular building unit comprising an internal volume, said further modular building unit configured to be positioned on top of the first modular building unit overlying a first portion of its footprint;in which the first modular building unit comprises a ceiling structure, the ceiling structure comprising:a first section defining at least one first surface configured to support said further modular building unit, said first surface disposed at a first height relative to the base; anda second section positioned laterally relative to the first section overlying a further portion of the footprint, the second section defining at least one second surface disposed at a second height relative to the base which is greater than the first height, said second surface configured to support or define at least part of a floor for an upper storey of the building.

29. A building comprising a first building section and a second building section, the first and second building sections together fonning at least part of the building, in which the second building section comprises a modular building assembly, the modular building assembly comprising:a first modular building unit comprising an internal volume, the first modular building unit having a base and a footprint; andat least one further modular building unit comprising an internal volume, said further modular building unit positioned on top of the first modular building unit overlying a first portion of its footprint;in which the first modular building unit comprises a ceiling structure, the ceiling structure comprising:a first section defining at least one first surface which supports said further modular building unit, said first surface disposed at a first height relative to the base; anda second section positioned laterally relative to the first section overlying a further portion of the footprint, the second section defining at least one second surface disposed at a second height relative to tlie base which is greater than the first height, said second surface configured to support or define at least part of a floor for an upper storey of the building.

30. A building system as claimed in claim 28, or a building as claimed in claim 29, in which the modular building assembly comprises the further features of any one of claims 2 to 27.

31. A modular building unit configured to form part of a modular building assembly, the modular building unit comprising an internal volume, a base, a footprint and a ceiling structure, in which the ceiling structure is configured to receive a further modular building unit so that said further modular building unit is positioned on top of the modular building unit, and in which the ceiling structure comprises:a first section defining at least one first surface configured to support the further modular building unit so that the further modular building unit overlies a first portion of the footprint, said first surface disposed at a first height relative to the base; anda second section positioned laterally relative to the first section, the second section overlying a further portion of the footprint and defining at least one second surface disposed at a second height relative to the base which is greater than the first height, said second surface configured to support or define at least part of a floor for an upper storey of a building comprising the modular building assembly.

32. A method of constructing a modular building assembly configured to form at least part of a building, the method comprising the steps of:constructing a first modular building unit, comprising providing the unit with an internal volume, a base and a footprint; andconstructing at least one further modular building unit, comprising providing said unit with an internal volume;in which the step of constructing the first modular building unit further comprises providing the unit with a ceiling structure comprising:a first section defining at least one first surface disposed at a first height relative to the base; anda second section positioned laterally relative to the first section, the second section defining at least one second surface disposed at a second height relative to the base which is greater than the first height;and in which the method further comprises positioning said further modular building unit on said first support surface overlying a first portion of the footprint; andarranging the second section so that said it overlies a further portion of the footprint, and so that said second surface supports or defines at least part of a floor for an upper storey of the building.

33. A method of constructing a building comprising the steps of:constructing a first building section at a final location for the building;constructing a modular building assembly according to the method of claim 32, and arranging the modular building assembly so that it forms a second building section; andconnecting the first and second building sections at the final location.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33, in which the step of constructing the modular building assembly comprises:at a location away from the final location, constructing the first modular building unit to a substantially assembled form comprising the internal volume and the footprint;at a location away from the final location, constructing the at least one further modular building unit to a substantially assembled form comprising the internal volume;transporting the first modular building unit and the at least one further modular building unit to the final location in their substantially assembled forms;positioning the first modular building unit at the final location; andforming the modular building assembly by positioning the at least one further modular building unit on top of the first modular building unit.Application No: GB2402379.8Claims searched: 1 to 34Examiner: Eleanor WadeDate of search: 10 April 2024Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17Documents considered to be relevant:Category Relevant to claims Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance X 1-3,10,11,2 1,23,24,2 8,29,30,3 1,32,33,3 4 JP2003041763 A MISAWA HOMES; see figures X 31 at least US3716954 A KELBISH; see figures v A 31 at least KR202001022I7 A ASTER DEV; see figures X 31 at least US4118905 A SHELLEY; see figures X 31 at least US2009 / 293384 A MILLER; see whole document X 31 at least JP2001303784 A BRIDGESTONE; see figures X 31 at least GB2191517 A STEWART; see whole documentCategories:X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step A Document indicating technological background and / or state of the art. Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if combined with one or more other documents of same category. P Document published on or after the declared priority date but before the filing date of this invention. & Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:Search of GB. EP, WO &US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCX :38Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC____________E04B; E04H_________________________________________________The following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of this search reportWPI, EPODOCInternational Classification:Subclass Subgroup Valid From E04B 0001 / 348 01 / 01 / 2006

Images