Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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_ R~CK~ROUND OF THE lNV~N~ lON
During the last 40 years many innovations have been made
in the industry of factory built housing and buildings. These
industries are generally divided into three basic categories which
are known as modular, panelized, and component. In the modular
system, houses, buildings or portions of either are constructed
which include a floor, walls, and roof and enclose a living space.
The panelized system is different in that no enclosed living space
is produced in the factory. Instead, finished wall, floor, ceiling
and roof panels are built in a factory and are then transported to
a housing or building site where they are assembled to enclose a
living space. The component segment of the industry produces the
least finished manufactured parts of building structures which are
mostly assembled structural frames built of wood and would include
wall frames, flooring systems, and roof trusses. The finished and
precut logs used to build log homes can also be considered
components.
In my prior U.S. Patent No. 5,193,325 there are disclosed
methods and systems for making modular buildings stackable and more
transportable. The systems disclosed in the present application
provide similar new efficiencies for shipping building panels and
building components.
In the instances where panelized buildings for housing
are shipped overseas, the completed or semi-finished panels have
in the past been shipped inside a standard overseas container,
sometimes with walls and floors and ceilings hinged to each other
as in U.S. Patent No. 4,891,919. This also has been the method for
shipping components. As is well known, there exists a worldwide
infrastructure of equipment and ocean going ships specially
designed for transporting these standard overseas shipping
containers.
It is an object of this invention to provide articles of
manufacture as well as accompanying methods for facilitating the
road transportation and overseas shipping of both construction
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panels and otl~er elongated construction components, using the
existillg worl~wide trannporta~iol1 inLra~ructurc for Ml~ipuing
overseas contaillers. It is another object to provide ~rletllods and
equiplnent wllereby pallels an~ compollellts may be stacked anrl trans-
ported without the need for utilizing an overseas container. These
inventiolls also provide for the most economical shipment of panels
and components, wllicll, because of their size, cannot fit witllin the
inside dimellsiolls of a standard overseas container. Other objects
of this invelltion include more efficient use of cargo space aboard
ships, tlle ability to stack the8e new cargo units in storage, and
the ability to trallsport tllem over tlle lligllways on tlle salne 6emi-
trailers used for transportillg overseas containers. Tl~ese inven-
tions provide new sl~ipping e~ficiencie~ by elimillatirlg tlle need for
an overseas contairler and by using the structure and dimensions of
tlle cargo itsel~ to position tl~e material llandlillg hardware.
~ F SUM~Y OF TliE INVENTION
Tllis invention relates to a system for transportirlg an ocean
cargo of elongated construction componellts wllich comprises assem-
bling a plurality of identical elongated construction compollents in
parallel, spaced, rigid relations}lip, witll tlle assemblage being
supported by ~our parallel, vertical load bearing beams, each end
of each beam termirlatillg in a fitting with a plurality o~ lifting
eyes, the fittillgs being positioned to define three pairs of paral-
lel planes enclosing a right prismatic, parallelepipedic space
meeting the dimensiolls of standard shipping containers for use on
ocean-going vessels.
In specific and preferred ernbodiments of the invention the
construction components may be panels, trusses, or the like; the
end frames may be rectangular structures of load supporting beams;
the lifting eyes must meet ISO standards; the end frames may have
telescopic, extendable vertical beams; and the construction cormpo-
nents may be screwed or bolted directly to the end frames.
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B~IEF D~SCRIPTION OF T~E Dn~WINGS
The novel features believed to be characteristic of this
invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.
The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and
method of operation, together with further objects and advantages
thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following
description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in
which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the end frame of this
invention;
FIG. 2 is a bot~om plan view of tlle rectangular end frame of
FIG. l;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the end frame of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the end frame of FIG. 1 as it
is used to package construction panels for shipment as cargo
frei.gl~t;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken at 5-5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a front elevational view showing the end frame
attached by lag screws to the individual log components;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the end frame of this
invention modified to include a clamping mechanism for holding a
plurality of roof trusses in parallel arrangement;
FIG. ~ is a front elevational view of the end frame attached
to the mechanical core, floor sections, walls, and roof sections of
a pre-fa~ricated panelized home or building; and
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the bundle of pre-
fabricated panels assembled as shown in FIG. 8, and separated to
indicate how those panels are assembled to prepare a finished
building.
DET~ILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a system for packaging a plurality
of elongated parallel objects to make them easily shippable as
cargo freight. It has already been mentioned that cargo freight is
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shipped via vessel, truck and airplane in closed cargo containers
that are standard sizes and are equipped with standard lifting eye
fittings. Tllese containers are ~ ft. by a.s ft. by 20, 30 or
40 ~t. long. It is the purpose of this invention to make a package
that is fully compatible with closed cargo containers but is less
bulky, less weighty, and less expensive than the use of closed
cargo containers. The package does not enclose the shipped
material, although, if desired, thq shipped material, may be
enclosed in thin plastic film to protect finishes that might be
harmed by flying dust.
In ~IGS. 1-3 there is shown an end frame. In the preferred
embodimer.t of this invention the package requires a pair of such
end frames as well as a plurality of fasteners, such as bolts and
nuts, or lag screws. Each end frame comprises two vertical load
supporting beams 10, preferably L-beams or angle beams, although
other shaped beams are entirely suitable. Horizontal beams 11 or
horizolltal plates 12 are necessary to ~orm a rigid, rectangular
frallle. 1'referably lower beam 11 is an angle beam or L-beam so as
to provide a horizolltal ledge or shelf upon whicll the shipped
componellts may rest. Two lateral, horizontal spaced plates 12 are
needed with a plurality of spaced holes 13 to receive
fasteners to support the individual elongated members being pack-
aged for shiplllellt. The construction of the el!d frame preferably is
by welding beams 10 to beam 11 and plates 12, althougll bolting is a
feasible alternative. Welding is preferred so as to make a planar
surface for contact with the shipped components.
On each of the four corners of each frame there is a fitting
14 with a plurality of lifting eyes. The fitting must conform in
dimensions to the standards of the International Organization for
Standardization, ISO 1161. Such fittings 14 are available in the
open mar]cet as steel castings that are welded to the ends of verti-
cal beams 10, which may be telescopic beams 10'. These fittings
14 are used for lifting the package by a crane havinq a cable
with four hooks. These fittings are also
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used for stacking one container or package on top of another for
shippillg. ~ special locking bolt not shown) connects eye-to-eye in
adjacent con~ainers or packages to produce stable stacks of con-
talners or packages.
The manner in whicil the end frames of FIGS. 1-3 is used to
package components that are in the form of panels is shown in
FIG. 4. The panels 15 are assembled in spaced parallel relation-
ship, and an end frame is rigidly attached at each end of the
assemblage of panels 15 to make the package of FIG. 4. The
connection between the end frame and each panel 15 is made by lag
screws 16 whicll extend through predrilled holes 13 in each hori-
zontal plate member 12 and into the end of the respective panel.
If the panel 15 ha3 a ledge, a recess, or other feature to accept
it, tlle lag screw 13 may be replaced by a bolt and nut or other
clamping mealls that will rigidly tighten panel 15 to horizontal
pla-te 12. It will be appreciated that when all panels 15 are
rigidly a~aclle~ at both ends to all end frame, the result is a
rigid package that can completely replace a closed cargo container
filled with such panels. In some special instances lower plate 12
may not be needed, if beam 11 has a sufficiently long vertical leg
to receive a plurality of drilled holes 13, througll which lag
screws 16 or bolts can be applied to connect panels 15 tightly to
beam 11.
FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view to indicate how the panel
15 is placed against and held tightly to the end framq. Lower
angle beam 11 serves as a shelf or ledge on whicll each panel 15
rests while lag screws 16 tighten the panel 15 against the inside
surface of horizontal plate 12.
FIG. 6 shows how a plurality of logs might be shipped using
the end frames of this invention. Each log 17 has a lag screw 16
tightelled into the end of the log 17, except those logs 17 in the
middle of the assemblage. By adding a sheet of plastic, wood,
fiberboard, or the like, between the ends of the logs 17 and the
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end frame, only the logs around the perimeter need be attaclled by a
lag screw 16. This modification is shown in FIG. 6. It should
also be noted tllat lower plate 12 i9 omitted in FIG. 6 becau~e the
logs 17 are small enough to permit lag screws 16 through holes in
the vertical leg of hori~ontal L-beam 11. If such were not suffi-
cient, lower plate 12 could be added as is the case in FIGS. 1-4.
FIG. 7 shows a package of roof trusses which do not lie flat
against very much of the end frame. In this case a clamp means is
employed with a movable plate 19 forming one jaw of a clamp with
the stationary plate 12 of the end frame serving as the other jaw
of the clamp. Long bolts 20 arid nuts 21 are assembled to provide
the clamping force. All that is necessary is that there be a
suitable purchase for clamping plate l9 to tighten against.
FIG. 8 shows a front elevational view which reveals a cross
section of how a pre-fabricated paneli~ed home or building can be
packaged for shipping. The building shown consists of a mechanical
core 22, whicll would likely include a finished kitchen and bathroom
under a fixed rool section 23. In this embodiment, surrounding the
core and held in suspension at theirlends, as described above with
respect to FIGS. 1-5, are finished interior wall panels 24, exteri-
or side and end panels 25 and 26, floor panels 27 and 28, and
finished roof panels 29 and 30. With panels packaged in this
fashion tl.e fixed roof section 23 and the roof panels 29 and 30 are
placed on the outside locations of the package to protect the
balance of the panels from exposure to the elements of weather in
shipping. The interior wall panels 24 and 25, the fixed roof
section 23, and the finished floor section 31 over its entire
length, preferably are affixed to each other to provide a rigid
assembly to support the package, and will remain in that assembly
when tlle house is later assembled at the building site. ~lterna-
tively these panels, and/or other panels may be supported in ship-
ping by temporary attachments to any or all of the other panels
held in suspension frorn their ends on end frames as in FIGS. 1-4.
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The panels in this packaged bundle can be completely finished in
the manufacturing plallt, including installed doors and windows and
interior and exterior wall coverings.
FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the package of panels in
FIG. ~, and also how, at delivery of the package to the building
site, the end frames 32 are removed and eacll of the panels 25-30
are then fastened into place around core 22 to form a finished
prefabricated building or house.
It should be apparent that the features of this invention may
be applied to package almost any elongated construction component
whether they nest together neatly or not, and whether planar
or not. Other planar cargoes might include solar panels or pre-
stressed hollow core concrete slabs. Nonplanar cargoes might
include large diameter steel oil field pipe or large diameter
concrete storm drainage pipe. Cargoes, other than construction
materials, may similarly benefit from being packaged and shipped
utilizing this system.
While the invention has been described with respect to certain
specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifica-
tions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, there-
fore, by the appended claims to cover all suc}i modifications and
changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by
Letters Patent of the ~nited States is:
