Method for constructing a building, construction assembly, and building comprising such a construction assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for constructing a building, the method comprising: providing interlockable construction panels, each construction panel having side edges with recesses and / or protrusions configured to respectively provide a mating and interlocking connection with the protrusions and / or recesses of another construction panel; and forming a box-like structure with a floor, a ceiling, and a plurality of two walls by: connecting a floor subset of the panels to each other to form a floor extending in a first direction and a second direction; providing at least two wall subsets of the panels; connecting panels of each wall subset to each other and to the floor subset to form walls; and connecting a ceiling subset of the panels to each other and to at least some of the wall panels to form a ceiling, thereby forming the box-like structure with the floor, ceiling, and a plurality of two walls. The present invention also relates to a construction assembly and a building.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for constructing a building, to a construction assembly, and to a building comprising such a construction assembly. The present invention also relates to the use of interlockable construction panels in the method, construction assembly and building according to the invention. [Background technology]

[0002] In practice, there is a demand for high-quality buildings that can be manufactured and constructed in a relatively short time with a small environmental footprint. Timber frame construction allows for short construction times and a relatively low environmental footprint, but does not always provide the desired high-quality buildings, especially with regard to structural rigidity and strength. Concrete construction offers high quality, but has a relatively high carbon footprint and a relatively long construction period. Therefore, improved methods for constructing buildings are needed. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] The present invention aims to obviate or at least mitigate the aforementioned problems by providing a method for constructing a building, the method comprising: providing a plurality of interlockable construction panels, each construction panel comprising a plurality of side edges, at least one of said plurality of side edges comprising one or more recesses and / or protrusions, said one or more recesses and / or protrusions configured to provide a mating and interlocking connection with the protrusions and / or recesses (recesses) of a second or further construction panel, respectively; forming a box-like structure having a floor, a ceiling and at least two walls, connecting the interlockable construction panels of the floor subset to each other to form a floor extending in a first direction and a second direction; providing at least two wall subsets of interlockable construction panels; connecting the interlockable construction panels of each wall subset to each other and to the floor subset to form a wall; connecting the interlockable construction panels of a ceiling subset to each other and to at least a portion of the interlockable construction panels of the wall to form a ceiling; forming a box-like structure having a floor, a ceiling and at least two walls by Includes.

[0004] An advantage of the method for constructing a building according to the present invention is that it provides a more rigid building compared to a traditional timber-frame building. This is primarily due to the fact that panels within the walls, ceilings, or floors interlock at many points, and the walls, ceilings, and floors are similarly connected by interlocking connections to form a box-like structure. The box-like structure, or simply box, thereby allows for a seamless transition between construction elements, both in terms of physical appearance and in terms of the transition of forces within the building. In particular, both horizontal and vertical forces are transmitted via floor or ceiling subsets to a wall subset or subsets, and then to the building's foundation. The stabilization assembly can thereby effectively and efficiently alleviate forces (i.e., stresses) on the building toward the foundation.

[0005] A further advantage of the method according to the invention is that the individual interlockable construction panels can be easily connected to one another by their "puzzle-like" side edges, which allows them to be locked together in a fast and efficient manner, increasing the speed of construction.

[0006] A further advantage is that due to the interlocking connection between the side edges (of the recesses and protrusions), no additional connecting means such as screws or nails are required to connect the interlockable construction panels together.

[0007] Yet another advantage is that the box structures are provided in a standardized form yet can be easily adapted to custom shapes, sizes and configurations for a particular building, thus providing increased flexibility regarding the shape of the (wooden) building.

[0008] It should be noted that in the method according to the invention, the plurality of interlockable construction panels comprises a plurality of subsets, including a floor subset, a ceiling subset, and at least two wall subsets, for creating a box-like structure. Preferably, the plurality of interlockable construction panels comprises at least two wall subsets, each wall subset being used to construct a wall of a building. It should be noted that the interlockable construction panels of the various subsets may be similar to each other or different from each other in terms of size and / or the shape of the recesses and / or protrusions provided on their side edges. Furthermore, the number of side edges provided with recesses and / or protrusions may also differ for different interlockable wall panels.

[0009] It should be noted that each of the one or more recesses on the side edge of an interlockable construction panel is configured to receive a corresponding (associated) protrusion of one or more protrusions of a second or further interlockable construction panel in a mating and interlocking connection. Similarly, one or more protrusions on the side edge of an interlockable construction panel are configured to be inserted into corresponding recesses of one or more protrusions of a second or further interlockable construction panel in a mating and interlocking connection. In this way, the number and shape of the protrusions and recesses of a first interlockable construction panel are matched to the number of recesses and protrusions of the interlockable construction panel to which the first panel is configured to be connected.

[0010] It is further noted that the protrusions on the side edges of the interlockable construction panels can also be formed by providing recesses in the side edges.Similarly, the recesses on the side edges of the interlockable construction panels can also be formed by providing protrusions in the side edges.

[0011] In one embodiment according to the invention, one or more recesses extend inwardly from each side edge and / or one or more protrusions extend outwardly from each side edge.

[0012] An advantage of providing the protrusions and recesses in-plane (flush) with the planar surface of the interlockable construction panels is that when viewed along the surface of a wall, ceiling, or floor, the protrusions and recesses are in line with the surface rather than extending above it, which provides a relatively smooth surface. Furthermore, it allows the interlockable construction panels to be connected by sliding them together, preferably by sliding the panels against each other in an out-of-plane direction.

[0013] In one embodiment according to the present invention, one or more of the side edges of at least one interlockable construction panel are provided with an alternating pattern of recesses and protrusions that is adapted to match the pattern of recesses and protrusions of the side edges of the interlockable construction panels to be connected.

[0014] The advantage of the alternating pattern is that it provides a large connection surface between interlockable construction panels that are connected to each other. Additionally, the connection point between two interlockable construction panels can be spread over the entire length of the side edge.

[0015] A further advantage is that the alternating patterns can be easily manufactured in an automated environment such as a prefabricated factory.

[0016] In an embodiment according to the invention, the method may further comprise connecting at least a portion of the interlockable construction panels of each wall subset to at least a portion of the interlockable construction panels of at least one other wall subset.

[0017] The various wall subsets are also preferably interconnected to one another using protrusions and recesses on their side edges, which provides increased rigidity and a substantially seamless wall.

[0018] It is preferred that the projections and recesses (more preferably the pattern) on the side edges of the interlockable construction panels of the first wall subset that are connected to the interlockable construction panels of the second wall subset match the projections and recesses (more preferably the pattern) on the side edges of the interlockable construction panels of the second wall subset to provide a mating and locking connection.

[0019] In one embodiment according to the invention, the shape of the protrusions and recesses forming the connections between interlockable construction panels of different (separate) subsets is different from the shape of the protrusions and recesses forming the connections between interlockable construction panels within the same subset.

[0020] Preferably, a subset of edges, i.e., wall edges, ceiling edges and floor edges, of the interlockable construction panels are provided with different types, i.e., different shapes of protrusions and recesses. The advantage is that by adapting the shapes, the strength of the connection can be optimized. Furthermore, by selecting a particular shape, the direction in which the connection is made (e.g., in-plane or out-of-plane) can also be optimized.

[0021] This also means that in this embodiment the shapes of the protrusions and recesses on different side edges of the interlockable construction panels are different.

[0022] The different subsets (and the connections between them) are, in this application, the ceilings, floors, and individual walls of a building, which can be anything from two to more walls in a building. In a "normal" configuration, a house has three, four, or five walls, but more walls are possible.

[0023] In one embodiment according to the present invention, the method comprises the following steps: connecting at least some of the interlockable construction panels of at least one wall subset to at least some of the interlockable construction panels of said floor subset and / or said ceiling subset at an angle α to a plane formed by the first direction or the second direction; and / or connecting at least some of the interlockable construction panels of the first wall subset to at least some of the interlockable construction panels of the second wall subset at an angle β; may include one or more of:

[0024] An advantage of the method according to the invention is that the walls can be arranged at angles to each other and / or to the floor and / or ceiling, resulting in a very high degree of freedom in the design of buildings using the method according to the invention, much higher than in traditional wooden buildings, e.g. timber frame construction.

[0025] A further advantage of the method according to the invention is that by adapting the shape of the protrusions and recesses, different subsets of interlockable construction panels can be seamlessly connected together, even at angles.

[0026] In one embodiment according to the invention, the shape of the protrusions and recesses that form the connections between interlockable construction panels that have angle α and / or angle β relative to each other is different from the shape of the protrusions and recesses that form the connections between interlockable construction panels that are in-plane (coplanar) with each other.

[0027] The advantage of this embodiment is that the shape of the protrusions and recesses in the angled connections can be tailored to the specific needs of the connection to provide a seamless and strong connection, which provides great flexibility in building design. At the same time, the shape of the protrusions and recesses in the in-plane connections can be optimized to provide a seamless and strong connection therebetween.

[0028] It should be noted that in this application the term "in-plane" refers to connections or locations within a common plane.

[0029] In one embodiment according to the invention, the angle α is in the range of 60° to 120°, preferably in the range of 70° to 110°, even more preferably in the range of 80° to 100°, and most preferably about 90°, and / or the angle β is in the range of 5° to 175°, preferably in the range of 45° to 135°, more preferably in the range of 70° to 110°, even more preferably in the range of 80° to 100°, and most preferably about 90°.

[0030] An advantage of the method according to the invention is that it allows a wide range of angles to be applied between the various construction elements (i.e. walls, ceilings and / or floors).

[0031] In one embodiment according to the present invention, the method comprises the following steps: providing one or more supports, said one or more supports being preferably support frames, more preferably timber support frames; connecting at least a portion of an interlockable construction panel of each of the at least two wall subsets to at least one of the one or more supports; It may further include:

[0032] The box-like structure formed by the method according to the invention can be further strengthened by applying one or more supports, preferably shaped as a timber frame. The supports, preferably a timber frame, provide a highly rigid and strong structure while allowing the use of interlockable construction panels of relatively low thickness. The use of a timber frame accordingly reduces the (overall) amount of material required for the construction of a building.

[0033] In one embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises the following steps: - installing doors and / or windows in said box-like structure, optionally preceded by providing door openings and / or window openings in one or more walls of said box-like structure; Insulating one or more of the walls, ceiling and / or floor of said box-like structure; and / or constructing a second floor, preferably comprising a second box-like structure, on the ceiling of the box-like structure.

[0034] The advantage of the method according to the invention is that it is possible to provide a number of box-like structures which can be easily assembled into a building, and at the same time it is possible to arrange doors and / or windows in a relatively simple manner by removing parts of the interlockable construction panels at the door and / or window locations, without significantly reducing the stiffness and strength of the building.

[0035] In one embodiment according to the invention, each side edge of each construction panel may be provided with a recess and / or a protrusion.

[0036] The advantage of providing recesses and / or protrusions on all side edges is that each side of the interlockable construction panel interlocks with the side of another interlockable construction panel, resulting in high strength and rigidity.

[0037] In one embodiment according to the invention, the one or more protrusions have a T-shape, a rectangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, preferably an (isosceles) trapezoidal shape and / or a square shape when viewed outward from the side edge, and / or the one or more recesses have a T-shape, a rectangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, preferably an (isosceles) trapezoidal shape and / or a square shape when viewed inward from the side edge.

[0038] An advantage of the T-shaped and trapezoidal (or dovetail) shapes described above is that they allow for seamless mating with corresponding (but oppositely shaped) recesses in a second or further interlockable construction panel, resulting in a rigid connection that limits in-plane movement, while also providing high out-of-plane stability.

[0039] Of particular note is that T-shapes and trapezoidal shapes are more resistant to connection disconnection, especially compared to square and rectangular shapes.

[0040] However, square and rectangular shapes are easier to connect with each other, which increases building speed.

[0041] In one embodiment according to the present invention, each construction panel has a length and a width that define a construction panel surface and a thickness.

[0042] In one embodiment according to the invention, the one or more connections with angle α and / or angle β comprise protrusions and recesses in the shape of a T or trapezoid, preferably in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid.

[0043] One advantage of these particular shapes is that they can accommodate the requirements of angled connections.

[0044] In one embodiment according to the invention, one or more connections of the interlockable construction panels between different subsets comprise T-shaped, trapezoidal, preferably isosceles trapezoidal or square-shaped protrusions and recesses, and one or more connections between the interlockable construction panels within a subset comprise trapezoidal-shaped protrusions and recesses.

[0045] One advantage of these particular shapes is that they can accommodate the requirements of angled connections.

[0046] The invention further relates to a construction assembly for constructing a building, the assembly comprising: a plurality of interlockable construction panels, each construction panel comprising a plurality of side edges, at least one of the plurality of side edges comprising one or more recesses and / or protrusions configured to provide a mating and interlocking connection with a respective protrusion and / or recess of a second or further construction panel; the plurality of interlockable construction panels comprising a floor subset, a ceiling subset, and at least two wall subsets; the floor subset comprises one or more interlockable construction panels connectable to one another to construct a floor; at least two wall subsets each comprising one or more interlockable construction panels, the interlockable construction panels of each wall subset being connectable to each other and to the floor subset to construct (build) a wall; the ceiling subset comprises one or more interlockable construction panels connectable to each other and to at least some of the interlockable construction panels of the at least two wall subsets to construct a ceiling; The floor subset, the at least two wall subsets and the ceiling subset are configured to form a substantially box-like structure when connected together.

[0047] The construction assembly according to the invention has the same effects and advantages as the method according to the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments described for the method according to the invention can also be used, alone or in combination, in the construction assembly according to the invention.

[0048] An advantage of the construction assembly according to the present invention is that it provides a more rigid building compared to traditional timber-frame buildings. This is primarily due to the box-like structure formed using interlocking construction panels. The fact that the panels within the walls, ceilings, or floors interlock in many places, and that the walls, ceilings, and floors are similarly connected by interlocking connections, creates a strong, rigid structure. Accordingly, the box-like structure, or simply box, allows for seamless transitions between components, both in terms of physical appearance and in terms of the transitions of forces within the building.

[0049] A further advantage of the assembly according to the invention is that the individual interlockable construction panels can be easily connected to one another by their "puzzle-like" side edges. This allows them to be locked together in a fast and efficient manner, increasing the speed of construction. This effect is further enhanced if the protrusions and recesses are adjusted to the orientation and position of the connections to be made. Connections between different (separate) subsets (i.e., floor-to-wall) can use protrusions and recesses of different shapes than for in-plane (i.e., floor-to-floor) connections.

[0050] A further advantage is that due to the interlocking connection between the side edges (of the recesses and protrusions), no additional connecting means such as screws or nails are required to connect the interlockable construction panels together.

[0051] Yet another advantage is that the box structures are provided in a standardized form yet can be easily adapted to custom shapes, sizes and configurations for a particular building, thus providing increased flexibility regarding the shape of the (wooden) building.

[0052] It should be noted that each of the one or more recesses on the side edge of an interlockable construction panel is configured to receive a corresponding (associated) protrusion of one or more protrusions of a second or further interlockable construction panel in a mating and interlocking connection. Similarly, one or more protrusions on the side edge of an interlockable construction panel are configured to be inserted into corresponding recesses of one or more protrusions of a second or further interlockable construction panel in a mating and interlocking connection. In this way, the number and shape of the protrusions and recesses of a first interlockable construction panel are matched to the number and shape of the recesses and protrusions of an interlockable construction panel to which the first panel is configured to be connected.

[0053] In one embodiment of the construction assembly according to the invention, at least some of the interlockable construction panels of each wall subset are connectable to one or more interlockable construction panels of at least one other wall subset.

[0054] The various wall subsets are also preferably interconnected to one another using protrusions and recesses on their side edges, which provides increased rigidity and a substantially seamless wall.

[0055] In one embodiment of the construction assembly according to the invention, the shape of the protrusions and recesses configured to form connections between interlockable construction panels of different (separate) subsets differs from the shape of the protrusions and recesses configured to connect interlockable construction panels within the same subset.

[0056] Preferably, the edges of a subset of the interlockable construction panels, i.e. the wall edges, the ceiling edges and the floor edges, are provided with different types, i.e. different shapes of protrusions and recesses.

[0057] The advantage is that by tailoring the shape, the strength of the connection can be optimized, and by choosing a particular shape, the direction in which the connection is made (e.g., in-plane or out-of-plane) can also be optimized.

[0058] This also means that in this embodiment the shapes of the protrusions and recesses on different side edges of the interlockable construction panels are different.

[0059] The different subsets (and the connections between them) are, in this application, the ceilings, floors, and individual walls of a building, which can be anything from two to more walls in a building. In a "normal" configuration, a house has three, four, or five walls, but more walls are possible.

[0060] In one embodiment of the construction assembly according to the invention, the one or more protrusions have one of the following shapes when viewed outward from the side edge: a T-shape, a rectangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, preferably an (isosceles) trapezoidal shape and / or a square shape; and / or the one or more recesses have one of the following shapes when viewed inward from the side edge: a T-shape, a rectangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, preferably an (isosceles) trapezoidal shape and / or a square shape.

[0061] An advantage of the T-shaped and trapezoidal (or dovetail) shapes described above is that they allow for seamless mating with corresponding (but oppositely shaped) recesses in a second or further interlockable construction panel, resulting in a rigid connection that limits in-plane movement, while also providing high out-of-plane stability.

[0062] Of particular note is that T-shapes and trapezoidal shapes are more resistant to connection disconnection, especially compared to square and rectangular shapes.

[0063] However, square and rectangular shapes are easier to connect with each other, which increases building speed.

[0064] In one embodiment of the construction assembly according to the invention, the assembly may further comprise one or more supports, preferably support frames, more preferably timber support frames, preferably configured to be connected to at least some of the interlockable construction panels of said at least two wall subsets.

[0065] The box-like structure of the construction assembly can be further strengthened by applying one or more supports, preferably configured as a timber frame. The supports, preferably a timber frame, provide a highly rigid and strong structure while allowing the use of interlockable construction panels of relatively low thickness. Accordingly, the use of a timber frame reduces the (overall) amount of material required to construct a building.

[0066] In one embodiment of the construction assembly according to the invention, each side edge of each interlockable construction panel comprises protrusions and / or recesses, preferably said protrusions and / or recesses being provided in an alternating pattern of recesses and protrusions.

[0067] The advantage of providing recesses and / or protrusions on all side edges is that each side of the interlockable construction panel interlocks with the side of another interlockable construction panel, resulting in high strength and rigidity.

[0068] In one embodiment of the construction assembly according to the invention, the interlockable construction panels of the floor subset are configured to extend in use in a plane defined by a first direction and a second direction, and the interlockable construction panels of at least two wall subsets are configured to be connected to the floor subset and to at least a portion of the ceiling subset at an angle α with said plane, and / or at least a portion of the interlockable construction panels of a first wall subset are configured to be connected to at least a portion of the interlockable construction panels of a second wall subset at an angle β.

[0069] An advantage of the method according to the invention is that the walls can be arranged at an angle to each other and / or to the floor and / or ceiling, resulting in a very high degree of freedom in the design of buildings using the construction assemblies according to the invention, much higher than in traditional wooden buildings, e.g. timber frame construction.

[0070] A further advantage is that by adapting the shape of the protrusions and recesses, different subsets of interlockable construction panels can be seamlessly connected together, even at angles.

[0071] In one embodiment according to the invention, the shape of the protrusions and recesses that form the connections between interlockable construction panels that have angle α and / or angle β relative to each other is different from the shape of the protrusions and recesses that form the connections between interlockable construction panels that are in-plane (coplanar) with each other.

[0072] The advantage of this embodiment is that the shape of the protrusions and recesses in the angled connections can be tailored to the specific needs of the connection to provide a seamless and strong connection, which provides great flexibility in building design. At the same time, the shape of the protrusions and recesses in the in-plane connections can be optimized to provide a seamless and strong connection therebetween.

[0073] It should be noted that in this application the term "in-plane" refers to connections or locations within a common plane.

[0074] In one embodiment according to the invention, the angle α is in the range of 60° to 120°, preferably in the range of 70° to 110°, even more preferably in the range of 80° to 100°, and most preferably about 90°, and / or the angle β is in the range of 5° to 175°, preferably in the range of 45° to 135°, more preferably in the range of 70° to 110°, even more preferably in the range of 80° to 100°, and most preferably about 90°.

[0075] The advantage is that a wide range of angles can be applied between the various construction elements (i.e. walls, ceilings and / or floors).

[0076] In one embodiment of the construction assembly according to the invention, the connection may be a slidable connection.

[0077] By allowing a protrusion or recess of an interlockable construction panel to be slidably inserted into a corresponding (associated) recess or protrusion of a second or further interlockable construction panel.

[0078] The advantage of sliding the (protrusions / recesses of) the building panels together is that it provides a snug fit of said protrusions in the recesses of a second or further wall panel (or vice versa) and at the same time makes manufacturing these protrusions and / or recesses relatively easy.

[0079] In one embodiment of the construction assembly, the thickness of the interlockable construction panels may be in the range of 6 to 30 mm, preferably in the range of 8 to 24 mm, and more preferably in the range of 12 to 18 mm.

[0080] Panels, particularly wood panels, having thicknesses ranging anywhere between 6 and 30 mm have been found to provide excellent properties when used in construction assemblies according to the present invention. This provides an excellent tradeoff between the required strength of the interlockable construction panels and the material costs associated with the resulting building. Furthermore, wood panels for construction are often manufactured in standard thicknesses, including, for example, 12 mm and 18 mm.

[0081] In one embodiment of the construction assembly, the interlockable construction panels may be made from wood, metal, plastic, or a combination of one or more thereof, and are preferably made from wood, which preferably comprises plywood (multiplex), oriented strand board (OSB), cross-laminated timber (CLT), or glue-laminated timber (GLT).

[0082] Although a variety of materials can be used, an advantage of wood is that it can be easily manufactured to desired specifications in a central location, such as a manufacturing plant. Furthermore, wood interlockable construction panels can be manufactured to high precision with respect to specifications. Preferably, such manufacturing, particularly the manufacture of recesses and protrusions, is performed using CNC technology.

[0083] In one embodiment of the interlockable wall panel according to the invention, the one or more protrusions and / or the one or more recesses extend through the entire thickness of the interlockable construction panel.

[0084] The invention also relates to a building comprising at least one construction assembly according to the invention.

[0085] The building according to the invention has the same effects and advantages as the method and construction assembly according to the invention. Furthermore, the described embodiments of the method and construction assembly according to the invention can also be used alone or in combination with the building according to the invention.

[0086] The present invention also relates to the use of interlockable construction panels in a method according to the invention, in a construction assembly according to the invention or in a building according to the invention, wherein the construction panel comprises a plurality of side edges, at least two side edges, and preferably all side edges, are provided with one or more recesses and / or protrusions configured to provide a mating and interlocking connection with protrusions and recesses, respectively, of a second or further construction panel, wherein the recesses and / or protrusions on a first of said at least two side edges have a shape different from the shape of the recesses and / or protrusions on a second of said at least two side edges.

[0087] The use according to the invention has the same effects and advantages as the method, the construction assembly and the building according to the invention. Furthermore, the described embodiments of the method, the construction assembly and the building according to the invention can also be used alone or in combination in the use according to the invention.

[0088] In one embodiment of the use of the construction panel according to the invention, the shape on the first of the at least two side edges is T-shaped and the shape on the second of the at least two side edges is trapezoidal or dovetail-shaped.

[0089] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent on the basis of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0090] [Figure 1a-1b] 1a-1b show various embodiments of interlockable construction panels that can be used in the method and assembly according to the present invention. [Figure 1c-1d] 1c-1d show various embodiments of interlockable construction panels that can be used in the method and assembly according to the present invention. [Figures 2a-2c] 2a-2c are detailed views showing examples of protrusions and / or recesses of the interlockable construction panels of FIGS. 1a-1d. [Figure 3a]FIG. 3a shows an example of a box-like structure produced by the method according to the invention. [Figure 3b] FIG. 3b shows an example of a box-like structure produced by the method according to the invention. [Figure 3c] FIG. 3c is a detailed view of the connection between the wall and ceiling subsets according to the invention. [Figure 3d] FIG. 3d is a detailed view of the connection between the wall subset and the ceiling subset according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0091] In an embodiment (see FIGS. 1a-1d), the interlockable construction panels 2, 102 are wooden boards, such as OSB boards or multiplex boards, and extend in a plane defined by a first direction x and a second direction y. The directions x and y are for reference only, as they will depend on the orientation of the construction panel in use. Each side edge 4, 6, 8, 10, 104, 106, 108, 110 of the interlockable wall panels 2, 102 is provided with an alternating pattern P of protrusions 12, 112 and recesses 14, 114. It should be noted that the presence of either a protrusion 12, 112 or a recess 14, 114 on a side edge 4, 6, 8, 10, 104, 106, 108, 110 automatically implies the presence of the other of the protrusions 12, 112 and recesses 14, 114. It should be noted that Figure 1a shows trapezoidal projections 12 and recesses 14, whereas in Figure 1b the interlockable construction panels 2 are provided with T-shaped projections 12 and recesses 14. All of these construction panels 2 have similarly shaped projections 12 and recesses 14 on all side edges of the panel 2. Such panels 2 are preferably used in the center of a wall, ceiling or floor, and preferably not as edge panels.

[0092] Figures 1c and 1d show a panel 102 that is preferably used at the edges of a subset to connect together interlockable construction panels, for example, of walls and floors.

[0093] In FIG. 1c, three sides are provided with trapezoidal protrusions 112 and recesses 114, while the fourth side is provided with T-shaped protrusions 112 and recesses 114, for example for connecting to interlockable construction panels 102 at the edges of a subset.

[0094] In Figure 1d, three sides are provided with T-shaped protrusions 112 and recesses 114, while the fourth side is provided with square shaped protrusions 112 and recesses 114. This particular configuration can be used, among other things, as a wall subset interlockable construction panel 102, where the square shaped protrusions 112 and recesses 114 connect to similarly shaped protrusions and recesses of a ceiling interlockable construction panel 102.

[0095] In more detail (see Figures 2a, 2b, 2c), it is shown that the protrusions 112, 212, 312 and the recesses 114, 214, 314 can have different shapes to achieve an interlocking effect between the interlockable construction panel 102 and a second or further interlockable wall panel (not shown). In a first embodiment, the protrusion 112 has a T-shape, with the lower end 112b of the T being connected to the side edge 104 of the interlockable construction panel 102 and the upper end 112a protruding from the side edge 104. Due to the shape of the protrusion 112, the recess 114 automatically has an inverted T-shape, with the lower end 114b pointing upwards in the second direction y and the lower end 114a located at the side edge 104. This alternating pattern allows the interlockable construction panel 102 to be connected to a second or further interlockable construction panel (not shown) in a third direction z, securing the panel 102 in place against movement in the plane formed by the first direction x and the second direction y.

[0096] In a second embodiment (see FIG. 2b), the protrusion 212 has a trapezoidal shape, with a small base 212b located at and connected to the side edge 204. The large or wide base 212a is located some distance outward from the side edge 204. The recess 214 has a mirror position compared to the protrusion 212. That is, the small base 214b in this embodiment is located above the side edge 204, while the wide or large base 214a is formed at the side edge 204.

[0097] In a third embodiment (see FIG. 2c), the protrusion 312 has a square shape, with the base 312b located at and connected to the side edge 304. The apex 312a is located at a certain distance outward from the side edge 304. The recess 314 has a mirror position compared to the protrusion 312. That is, the base 314b in this embodiment is located above the side edge 304, while the lower end 314a is formed at the side edge 304.

[0098] In one example of a building assembly 250 (see FIG. 3a), a box-like structure 254 includes three side walls (of which only W1 and W2 are visible), a ceiling C, and a floor F. Each of the walls W, ceiling C, and floor F includes a plurality of interlockable wall panels 2, 102 that interlock with one another. In this particular example, the interlockable wall panels 2 that connect only to interlockable wall panels 2 of the same subset all include trapezoidal projections 212 and depressions 214 to form dovetail connections. In this example, the interlockable wall panels 102 that connect to both interlockable wall panels 2 of the same subset and interlockable wall panels 102 of a different subset are provided with trapezoidal projections 212 and depressions 214 to form in-plane connections. Square-shaped projections 312 and depressions 314 are provided for connections with interlockable wall panels of a different subset.

[0099] Figure 3b shows an example of a building 400 having a door 460 and a window 462 provided in a side wall W1 of the building 400. The example building 400 has been constructed using the method according to the present invention from a plurality of interlockable construction panels.

[0100] 3c and 3d show detailed views of T-shaped connections between different (separate) subsets of interlockable construction panels 102, illustrating that the T-shaped connections can similarly be used to connect different (separate) subsets of interlockable construction panels 102 together.

[0101] The present invention is in no way limited to the preferred embodiments described above, and the scope of the claimed subject matter is defined by the following claims, within which many modifications can be envisaged.

Claims

1. 1. A method for constructing a building, said method comprising: providing a plurality of interlockable construction panels, each construction panel comprising a plurality of side edges, at least one of said plurality of side edges comprising one or more recesses and / or protrusions, said one or more recesses and / or protrusions configured to provide a mating and interlocking connection with the protrusions and / or recesses, respectively, of a second or further construction panel; forming a box-like structure having a floor, a ceiling and at least two walls, connecting the interlockable construction panels of the floor subset to each other to form a floor extending in a first direction and a second direction; providing at least two wall subsets of interlockable construction panels; connecting the interlockable construction panels of each wall subset to one another and to the floor subset to form a wall; connecting the interlockable construction panels of the ceiling subset to each other and to at least a portion of the interlockable construction panels of the wall to form a ceiling; forming a box-like structure having a floor, a ceiling and at least two walls by A method comprising:

2. The following steps: connecting at least a portion of the interlockable construction panels of each wall subset to at least a portion of the interlockable panels of at least one other wall subset; The method of claim 1 further comprising:

3. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the shapes of the protrusions and recesses forming the connections between interlockable construction panels of different subsets are different from the shapes of the protrusions and recesses forming the connections between interlockable construction panels within the same subset.

4. The following steps: connecting at least some of the interlockable construction panels of at least one wall subset to at least some of the interlockable construction panels of said floor subset and / or said ceiling subset at an angle α to the plane formed by the first direction and the second direction; and / or connecting at least some of the interlockable construction panels of the first wall subset to at least some of the interlockable construction panels of the second wall subset at an angle β; The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising one or more of:

5. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 when dependent on claim 4, wherein the shapes of the protrusions and recesses forming the connections between interlockable construction panels that have angles α and / or β relative to one another are different from the shapes of the protrusions and recesses forming the connections between interlockable construction panels that are coplanar with one another.

6. 6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the angle α is in the range of 60° to 120°, preferably in the range of 70° to 110°, even more preferably in the range of 80° to 100°, and most preferably about 90°; and / or the angle β is in the range of 5° to 175°, preferably in the range of 45° to 135°, more preferably in the range of 70° to 110°, even more preferably in the range of 80° to 100°, and most preferably about 90°.

7. The following steps: providing one or more supports, said one or more supports being preferably support frames, more preferably timber support frames; connecting at least a portion of each interlockable construction panel of the at least two wall subsets to at least one of the one or more supports; The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:

8. The following steps: - installing doors and / or windows in said box-like structure, optionally preceded by providing door openings and / or window openings in one or more walls of said box-like structure; isolating one or more of the walls, ceiling and / or floor of the box-like structure; and / or constructing a second floor on the ceiling of said box-like structure, preferably comprising a second box-like structure; The method of any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising one or more of:

9. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each side edge of each construction panel is provided with recesses and / or protrusions.

10. 10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the one or more protrusions have a T-shape, a rectangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, preferably an (isosceles) trapezoidal shape and / or a square shape when viewed outward from the side edge, and / or the one or more recesses have a T-shape, a rectangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, preferably an (isosceles) trapezoidal shape and / or a square shape when viewed inward from the side edge.

11. 11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 when dependent on claim 5, wherein the one or more connection portions with angle α and / or angle β comprise trapezoidal, preferably isosceles trapezoidal, projections and depressions.

12. 12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 when dependent on claim 2, wherein one or more connections of the interlockable construction panels between different subsets comprise T-shaped, trapezoidal, preferably isosceles trapezoidal or square-shaped protrusions and recesses, and wherein one or more connections between the interlockable construction panels within a subset comprise trapezoidal-shaped protrusions and recesses.

13. 1. A construction assembly for constructing a building, said construction assembly comprising: a plurality of interlockable construction panels, each construction panel comprising a plurality of side edges, at least one of the plurality of side edges comprising one or more recesses and / or protrusions configured to provide a mating and interlocking connection with a respective protrusion and / or recess of a second or further construction panel; the plurality of interlockable construction panels comprising a floor subset, a ceiling subset, and at least two wall subsets; the floor subset comprises one or more interlockable construction panels connectable to one another to construct a floor; at least two wall subsets each comprising one or more interlockable construction panels, the interlockable construction panels of each wall subset being connectable to each other and to the floor subset to construct a wall; the ceiling subset comprises one or more interlockable construction panels connectable to each other and to at least some of the interlockable construction panels of the at least two wall subsets to construct a ceiling; the floor subset, the at least two wall subsets, and the ceiling subset are configured to form a substantially box-like structure when connected to one another. Construction assembly.

14. 14. The construction assembly of claim 13, wherein at least some of the interlockable construction panels of each wall subset are connectable to one or more interlockable construction panels of at least one other wall subset.

15. 15. A construction assembly according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the shape of the projections and recesses configured to form connections between interlockable construction panels of different subsets is different from the shape of the projections and recesses configured to connect interlockable construction panels within the same subset.

16. 16. A construction assembly according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the one or more protrusions have one of the following shapes when viewed outwards from a side edge: a T-shape, a rectangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, preferably an (isosceles) trapezoidal shape and / or a square shape; and / or the one or more recesses have one of the following shapes when viewed inwards from the side edge: a T-shape, a rectangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, preferably an (isosceles) trapezoidal shape and / or a square shape.

17. further comprising one or more supports, said one or more supports being preferably support frames, more preferably timber support frames; A construction assembly according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein preferably said one or more supports are configured to be connected to at least some of the interlockable construction panels of said at least two wall subsets.

18. 18. A construction assembly according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein each side edge of each interlockable construction panel comprises protrusions and / or recesses, preferably said protrusions and / or recesses being provided in an alternating pattern of recesses and protrusions.

19. the interlockable construction panels of the floor subset are configured to extend, in use, in a plane defined by a first direction and a second direction, and the interlockable construction panels of at least two wall subsets are configured to be connected to the floor subset and to at least a part of the ceiling subset at an angle α to the plane; and / or 19. The construction assembly according to any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein at least some of the interlockable construction panels of a first wall subset are configured to be connected at an angle β with at least some of the interlockable construction panels of a second wall subset.

20. A building comprising at least one construction assembly according to any one of claims 13 to 19.

21. 20. Use of interlockable construction panels in a method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, a construction assembly according to any one of claims 13 to 19 or a building according to claim 20, wherein the construction panels comprise a plurality of side edges, at least two side edges, and preferably all side edges, are provided with one or more recesses and / or protrusions configured to provide a mating and interlocking connection with protrusions and recesses, respectively, of a second or further construction panel, wherein the recesses and / or protrusions on a first of the at least two side edges have a shape that is different from the shape of the recesses and / or protrusions on a second of the at least two side edges.

22. 22. The use of interlockable construction panels according to claim 21, wherein the shape on the first of the at least two side edges is a T-shape and the shape on the second of the at least two side edges is a trapezoidal or dovetail shape.

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