Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02225864 2005-O1-24
NEW ASE SHELTERS
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a locking application for connecting molded panels
to
form a prefabricated, portable and expandable structure.
Background ofthe Invention
Most buildings for use in residential, commercial, industrial or agricultural
purposes, are not environmentally friendly and are costly to build. 'They
require skilled trades
and extensive time to erect. They are usually neither portable nor expandable
and are unable
to withstand high winds, earthquakes or heavy snow loads.
In the prior art, applicant is aware of United states Patent No. 5,513,471 and
Canadian Patent No. 2,103,103 which are corresponding patents issued to Worms
et al. and
which describe a contiguous wall panel section which is formed in three planar
portions;
namely a vertical lower portion, a relatively gently inwardly sloping
intermediate portion and a
more aggressive inwardly sloping upper portion. The wall panels are formed
with parallel
longitudinal sides, each of which has an integrally formed rib or channel and
into which the
channel of the corresponding side rib of successive wall panels are nested and
secured. Corner
panels are formed in the same way as the wall panels except that the vertical
lower portion is
curved in a horizontal plane. Two corner panels are utilized at a corner. The
longitudinal
sides of the lower section are parallel, while the outer sides of the
intermediate and the upper
section sections of adjacent corner panels converge toward the top of the
panel to match
adjacent side wall panels.
Applicant is also aware of United States Patent No. 4,068,421, to Marovich in
which is disclosed an integrally formed, smoothly curved wall panel which is
formed as a
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hemi-spheraidal section. The longitudinal edges of each panel has a channel
which can be
interfitted with the channel on adjacent panels which are then bolted
together. Intermediate or
wall panels having parallel longitudinal sides can be used to enlarge the
structure to a
generally ellipsoidal shape.
Summary of the Invention
It is the object of the present invention to provide a habitable shelter
constructed from separate interlocking components or panels. The panels can be
fabricated
IO frorn a rigid, light weight material such as fiberglas or urethane, and
embody both end wall
and side wall panels. The end wall panels are spherical triangular segments.
Side wall panels,
having generally parallel longitudinal edges, may also be provided which can
be utilized to
lengthen the shelter.
I S Thus the present invention provides a sturdy weather proof shelter
suitable for
habitation which is assembled from pre-made modular components. The components
take the
form of wall panels which are curved inwardly and upwardly from a common base-
level rim
to a common vertex. The vertex is generally enclosed by a roof cap which
provides a
weatherproof cover. Each panel can be securely interlocked to the adjacent
panel by means of
20 raised ribs or channels which extend along the length of the panel in
vertical planes adjacent
and parallel to the longitudinal side edges of the panel.
A first channel is formed adjacent a first longitudinal side edge of the panel
and
a second channel is formed adjacent a second longitudinal side edge of the
panel. First
25 channels of each panel are formed so as to snugly fit within the second
channels formed
adjacent the second longitudinal side edge of panels when positioned in a side-
by-side array.
The channels are secured in an interlocked relationship by means of releasable
fasteners such
as bolts or the like.
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Lateral displacement of the side-by-side array of panels is further inhibited
by
the formation of a first channel step formed along a first longitudinal side
of the first channel
and a first channel lip formed on a second longitudinal side of the first
channel. The first
channel lip protrudes laterally outwardly from the first channel. A
corresponding second
channel lip protrudes laterally outwardly from the first side of the second
channel, and a raised
auxiliary rib is formed parallel to and spaced from the opposite second edge
of the second
channel.
During assembly of these shelter components, the first longitudinal side edge
of
a panel is placed over a second longitudinal side edge of an adjacent panel in
the side-by-side
array so that the second channel is securely nested within the overlying first
channel. Such
positioning ensures that the second channel lip, adjacent the second channel,
is placed in
engagement beneath the first channel step, adjacent the first channel, and the
first channel lip
is snugly fitted in the depression formed between the second channel and the
raised auxiliary
rib. Releasable fasteners such as bolts can then be placed through aligned
holes in the ribs.
In summary, the modular component shelter of the present invention includes
an adjacent side-by-side array of curved, interlocking, rigid panels. The
panels curve
upwardly and inwardly to a common vertex from a common base-level
circumferential rim.
The panels interlock between adjacent panels by means of raised interlocking
ribs. The ribs
extend in generally vertical planes along opposite side edges of each panel so
as to form a first
channel along a first side edge of each panel and second channel along an
opposite second side
edge of each panel. The first channel is shaped to snugly fit within the
second channel along
the length of the channels. The first channel is releasabiy securable in the
second channel by
means of releasable fasteners such as bolts.
In the modular shelter of the present invention the panels include at least
one
curved array of end panels, the array of end panels in adjacent side-by-side
array forming a
rounded first end cap of the shelter. The end cap is formed as a generally
spherical triangle.
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The modular shelter further includes a second end cap, identical to the first
end cap, the first
and second end caps in opposed facing relation.
'The first and second end caps may be mounted to each other. Intermediate
panels may be mounted in parallel array in adjacent side-by-side array between
the first and
second end caps so as to form an elongate shelter.
In the modular shelter of the present invention the first channel further
includes
a step formed along a first edge of the f rst channel and a first channel lip
formed along, so as
to protrude outwardly of, an opposite second edge of the first channel. The
second channel
further includes a second channel lip formed along, so as to protnade
outwardly of, a first edge
of the second channel. A raised auxiliary rib is parallel to and spaced from
an opposite second
edge of the second channel. When the second channel of one of the panels is
interlocked
within the first channel of an adjacent panel in the adjacent side-by-side
array, by snug fitment
1 S of the first channel over the second channel, the second channel lip mates
snugly under the
step and the first channel lip fits snugly between the second edge of the
second channel and the
auxiliary rib. A roof cap may be mounted over the common vertex. One of the
intermediate
panels may have a door portal formed therein.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the modular component shelter according to
the present invention.
Figure 2 is an enlarged lateral cross-sectional view of the interlocking of
two
adjacent panels along line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a lateral cross-sectional view through a typical panel in the
shelter of
Figure I.
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Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
The modular component shelter IO of the present invention consists of a
plurality of light weight and rigid interlocking panels 12 which may be formed
of fibreglass or
urethane. Modular interlocking panels 12 are curved along the longitudinal
axis A from a
common base-level rim 12a to provide a substantially vertical wall portion 12b
and an upward
and inwardly sloping roof portion 12c. Roof portion 12c terminates at a common
vertex 14. A
roof cap 16 is secured to panels 12 adjacent common vertex 14 to provided a
weather seal.
Panels 12 may be provided with windows 18 and a door portal 20.
End panels 24 are arcuately formed in a horizontal plane adjacent the base-
level
rim I2a, so that a side-by side array of panels 24 will create a rounded end
portion 26 of
shelter 10. End panels 24 are spherically triangular in shape and have side
edges which
I S canverge toward the apex. A plurality of end panels 24 secured in a side-
by-side array will
form the rounded end portion 26 for shelter 10
The panels have first and second longitudinal side edges 30 and 32
respectively.
Longitudinal side edges 30 and 32 are in vertical planes once the panels have
been erected and
interlocked in the manner set out below. A first channel 34 is formed adjacent
to first
longitudinal side edge 30 of the panel and a second channel 36 is formed
adjacent to second
longitudinal side edge 32 of the panel. First channel 34 is slightly larger
than channel 36 so
that when first longitudinal side edge 30 overlaps second longitudinal side
edge 32, in a
vertical side-by-side array of panels, second channel 36 will fit snugly
within first channel 34.
Projecting laterally outward from first channel 34 is a first channel lip 40.
Formed parallel to and spaced inwardly from first channel 34 is a first
channel step 46. A
second channel lip 44 protrudes laterally outwardly from second channel 36.
Positioned
inwardly and parallel to second channel 36 is a raised auxiliary rib 42
forming a depression 43
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therebetween. Both first channel step 46 and raised auxiliary rib 42 are
spaced inwardly from
their respective channels by a distance equal or slightly greater than the
lateral width of the
channel Zips 40 and 44 respectively, i.e. the lateral distance that raised
auxiliary rib 42 is
spaced laterally inwardly from channel 36, that is, the lateral dimension of
depression 43,
matches the lateral width of first channel lip 40. The lateral distance that
first channel step 46
extends laterally inwardly from first channel 34 matches the lateral width of
second channel lip
44. This feature provides a positive positioning device which interlocks the
panel edges. The
contact between the panel edges and the adjacent shoulders created by the
raised auxiliary rib
42 and channel step 46 inhibits lateral dislocation between the nested edges.
Releasable
fasteners such as bolts 54 may be placed through aligned holes in the ribs to
secure the panels
together.
Second channel lip 44, and step 46 are offset from the body 38 of the panel by
a
distance B which is generally equal to the thickness of the panel. Such offset
distance B
I 5 permits the inside face 50 of adjacent panels to be kept in planar
alignment when the second
longitudinal side edge 32 of the panel is overlapped by first longitudinal
side edge 30 of an
adjacent panel when positioned in an overlapping side-by-side array.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing
disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of
this invention
without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of
the invention is
to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following
claims.
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