Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02469429 2004-06-O1
READILY PORTABLE FACILITY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOUSES OR
OTHER BUILDINGS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a readily portable facility and method for
manufacturing at
least one house or other building in the readily portable facility for later
transportation and
installation of the house or other building to a foundation site, and in
particular to a readily portable
facility and method for manufacturing at least one house or building in the
readily portable facility,
utilizing stick building techniques or by using one or more assembly
production lines, for later
transportation and installation of the house or building to a foundation site.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The manufacturing of completed or partially completed houses (both of which
are referred
to herein as "houses") within a factory for subsequent transport to the
installation location of the
house, for example in a subdivision, is well-known. When compared to outdoor
stick building,
manufacturing houses within a factory provides numerous advantages, including
the improved ability
to work at all hours of the day and without concern for weather, and providing
greater worker safety
and comfort and improved efficiency in use of material, energy and equipment.
Where a factory is used for the manufacturing of completed or partially
completed houses,
the location of the factory is generally fixed, or requires significant effort
to re-locate. This may be
acceptable in situations where the factory will be used for many years in a
particular location and,
where at the end of its useful life at that location, the factory building is
then converted into a
recreational facility or other non-house manufacturing building.
However, where the duration of a house building factory will be less than, for
example, 7-10
years, it may be advantageous to utilize a readily portable facility for the
manufacture of houses or
other buildings such as that described herein.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved readily portable
facility and
method for manufacturing at least one house or other building in the readily
portable facility for later
transportation and installation of the houses or other buildings to a
foundation site, which overcomes
the above-referenced disadvantage in the prior art.
It is a further object to provide an improved readily portable facility which
can be quickly and
easily erected and maintained, and which is durable and easy to relocate.
It is a further object to provide an improved readily portable facility which
can be easily
assembled and disassembled for quick relocation and placement of the readily
portable facility.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a readily
portable facility
for manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or building,
comprising a
manufacturing site located closely proximate to an installation location for
the completed or
substantially completed house or building; a support framework positioned on
the manufacturing
site, the support framework comprising a plurality of upright support trusses,
the support trusses
being laterally spaced; a sheet of material secured to and covering at least a
portion of the support
framework; anchoring means for anchoring bottom ends of each of the support
trusses to a base
surface; and a product fabrication area within the manufacturing site, the
product fabrication area
being used for constructing the completed or substantially completed house or
building within the
product fabrication area utilizing building materials, characterized in that
the completed or
substantially completed house or building is removed from the product
fabrication area and placed
at the installation location, whereby the portable facility can be quickly
disassembled and removed
from the location closely proximate to the installation location, transported
to a new manufacture
site, and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further
completed or substantially
completed house or building at a new installation location, the new
manufacture site being closely
proximate to the new installation location.
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According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a
readily portable
facility for manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or
building for later
placement at an installation location in a subdivision comprising a
manufacturing site located closely
proximate to the installation location for the completed or substantially
completed house or building;
a support framework positioned on the manufacturing site, the support
framework comprising a
plurality of upright support trusses, the support trusses being laterally
spaced; a sheet of material
secured to and covering at least a portion of the support framework; anchoring
means for anchoring
bottom ends of each of the support trusses to a base surface; a fabrication
area located in the
manufacturing site, the fabrication area being used for converting house
building materials into
factory manufactured building components; and transporting means for
transferring the completed
or substantially completed house from the fabrication area for placement at
the installation location
whereby, when the completed or substantially completed house or building has
been removed from
the fabrication area, the portable facility can be quickly disassembled and
removed from the
manufacturing site closely proximate to the installation location, transported
to a new manufacture
site, and quickly erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further
completed or substantially
completed house or building at a new installation location, the new
manufacture site being closely
proximate to the new installation location.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a
method for
manufacturing completed or substantially completed houses or buildings,
comprising the steps of
manufacturing the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings
within areadily portable
facility located closely proximate to an installation location for the houses
or buildings; transporting
the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings to the
installation location; and
installing the completed or substantially completed houses or buildings at the
installation location,
characterized in that, when the completed or substantially completed houses or
buildings have been
removed from the readily portable facility for placement at the installation
location, the readily
portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the
installation location closely
proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site,
and quickly erected to
begin manufacture of additional completed or substantially completed houses or
buildings at a new
installation location, the new manufacture site being closely proximate to the
new installation
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location.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a
method for
manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or building within
a readily portable
facility, comprising the steps of receiving house building materials at the
readily portable facility,
the readily portable facility being located closely proximate to an
installation location for the
completed or substantially completed house or building; constructing the
completed or substantially
completed house or building in a product fabrication area within the readily
portable facility utilizing
the building materials; transporting the completed or substantially completed
house or building from
the product fabrication area within the readily portable facility to the
installation location for the
completed or substantially completed house or building; and installing the
completed or substantially
completed house or building at the installation location, characterized in
that, when the completed
or substantially completed house or building has been placed at the
installation location, the readily
portable facility can be quickly disassembled and transported from the
location closely proximate
to the installation location to a new manufacture site, whereby the readily
portable facility may then
be quickly erected to begin manufacture of an additional completed or
substantially completed house
or building at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being
closely proximate to the
new installation location.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided
a method for
manufacturing at least one house or building at a readily portable facility
for later transportation to
and installation at a foundation site utilizing a transporter, the at least
one house or building
including factory manufactured building components which are each installed
separately therein to
form a completed or substantially completed house or building, the method
comprising the steps of
receiving house building materials at the readily portable facility, the
readily portable facility being
located closely proximate to an installation location for the at least one
house or building; providing
at least one production line or area where the house building materials can be
received; transferring
at least some of the house building materials to the at least one production
line or area; constructing
at least some of the house building materials into the factory manufactured
building components on
the at least one production line or area in the readily portable facility;
transporting the constructed
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factory manufactured building components from the at least one production line
or area to a product
fabrication area within the readily portable facility; installing the factory
manufactured building
components constructed at the at least one production line or area in the at
least one house or
building, so as to form the completed or substantially completed house or
building in the product
fabrication area; utilizing the transporter to transport the completed or
substantially completed house
or building from the product fabrication area to the foundation site for
installation; and installing the
completed or substantially completed house or building at the foundation site,
characterized in that,
when the completed or substantially completed house or building has been
placed at the foundation
site, the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and
transported from the location
closely proximate to the installation location to a new manufacture site,
whereby the portable facility
can then be quickly erected to begin manufacture of an additional completed or
substantially
completed house or building at a new installation location, the new
manufacture site being closely
proximate to the new installation location.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method of using
a readily portable facility for manufacturing a completed or substantially
completed house or
building, comprising selecting a manufacturing site located closely proximate
to an installation
location for the completed or substantially completed house or building;
positioning a support
framework on the manufacturing site, the support framework comprising a
plurality of support
trusses, the support trusses being laterally spaced; covering at least a
portion of the support
framework with a sheet of covering material, the securing material being
secured to the support
framework; anchoring bottom ends of each of the support trusses to a ground
surface; and
positioning a product fabrication area within the manufacturing site, the
product fabrication area
being used for constructing the completed or substantially completed house or
building within the
product fabrication area utilizing building materials, wherein, when the
completed or substantially
completed house or building has been completed, the completed or substantially
completed house
or building is removed from the product fabrication area and placed at the
installation location,
whereby the portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the
location closely
proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacture site,
and quickly erected and
re-used to begin manufacture of a further completed or substantially completed
house or building
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at a new installation location, the new manufacture site being closely
proximate to the new
installation location.
Another aspect of the present invention provides for a use of a readily
portable facility for
manufacturing a completed or substantially completed house or building at a
manufacturing site
closely proximate to an installation location, wherein, when the completed or
substantially completed
house or building has been completed, the completed or substantially completed
house or building
is removed from the readily portable facility and placed at the installation
location, whereby the
readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from the
manufacturing site
closely proximate to the installation location, transported to a new
manufacturing site, and quickly
erected and re-used to begin manufacture of a further completed or
substantially completed house
or building at a new installation location, the new manufacturing site being
closely proximate to the
new installation location.
It is an advantage of the present invention that, due to the ease in
transporting the readily
portable facility, the manufacturing of the house or building always occurs at
a manufacturing site
within or closely proximate to the final installation location, and the
constraints, limitations and costs
associated with transportation of the house or building from a remote
manufacturing site over greater
distances on public roadways are reduced.
It is a further advantage of the present invention that the readily portable
facility can be
cheaply and quickly assembled at a chosen manufacturing site, thus providing
greater simplicity and
cost efficiency to the overall process. Additionally, since fabric may be used
to cover the support
framework of the readily portable facility and may preferably be of a light
color, or white, a
significant amount of natural light can permeate through the fabric, whereby
the need for additional
internal lighting of the readily portable facility can be greatly reduced or
eliminated and a naturally
bright interior and workspace is created. This can lead to a reduction in
utility and operation costs,
and help to further illuminate the working environment within the readily
portable facility, thus
creating a safer more pleasant working environment.
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A still further advantage of the present invention is that the readily
portable facility of the
present invention can be quickly disassembled and removed from one
manufacturing site and
transported to a new manufacturing site, where it can then be quickly re-
assembled and reused to
construct further houses or buildings at the new manufacturing site.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the readily portable
facility of the
present invention can be utilized to assemble houses or buildings for
placement on foundation sites
in smaller subdivision sites or other locations, whereby, due to the smaller
size of the subdivision
site or other location, the readily portable facility of the present invention
improves the cost-
effectiveness and capital efficiency by using a smaller, less expensive and
easy to erect facility such
as the readily portable facility in the house manufacturing process. Further,
where the type of homes
which are to be constructed are of a variety requiring custom construction
methods, the readily
portable facility of the present invention additionally improves the cost-
effectiveness and capital
efficiency of the building process.
The present invention thus allows for an improved method of manufacturing a
house in a
portable facility which is cost-effective, efficient and reliable, and which
possesses sufficient
flexibility to manufacture houses of significantly different sizes, designs
and/or customizations,
utilizing stick building techniques, assembly line techniques, subassembly
line techniques, or a
combination of these techniques, which houses can then be transported to the
installation site.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with
reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a simplified graphical representation in plan view form of one
embodiment of the interior
of a readily portable facility , the readily portable facility being shown
adjacent to the subdivision
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being built;
Figure 2 is a simplified graphical representation of a plan view of the
interior of an embodiment of
a readily portable facility of the present invention, illustrating a
production line and a fabrication area
where the houses or buildings may be constructed;
Figure 3 is a simplified graphical representation of a plan view of a further
embodiment of a readily
portable facility of the present invention, illustrating a production line and
a fabrication area;
Figures 4A and 4B illustrate two alternative embodiments of support truss
components for
supporting the walls and roof of the readily portable facility and Figures 4C
and 4D illustrate these
embodiments in exploded views, respectively;
Figures SA and SB are perspective views illustrating two alternative
embodiments of the uncovered
support trusses illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B respectively, arranged above
the floor of the facility
for installation of a covering fabric or material;
Figure 6A and 6B illustrate perspective views of alternative embodiments of
the readily portable
facility of the present invention, showing the covering fabric or material in
place over the support
trusses shown in Figures SA and SB respectively; and
Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the readily
portable facility of the present
invention, showing an entrance at one end of the readily portable facility.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to Figure 1, in the preferred embodiment, a readily portable
house
manufacturing facility 1 is established within, or in close proximity to, a
subdivision 2 which is
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being built. The proximity of the readily portable facility 1 to the
subdivision 2 beneficially allows
for the manufacture of complete or substantially complete houses or buildings
within the readily
portable facility 1, and allows for the subsequent delivery of the house to a
foundation site in the
subdivision 2, with reduced or entirely eliminated likelihood of interference
during the delivery of
the house from the readily portable facility 1 to its foundation in the
subdivision 2 as a result of
bridges, wires, narrow roads or other impediments and with reduced or entirely
eliminated need to
utilize public access roads and highways (that is, roads and highways to which
the public generally
has access) during such transport of the house.
In the preferred embodiment, the readily portable facility 1 is designed to be
a selectively
highly mobile facility, wherein, when the completed or substantially completed
houses or buildings
have been placed at the installation location or subdivision 2, the readily
portable facility 1 can be
quickly disassembled, packaged for transport, and removed from its location
closely proximate to
the subdivision 2, and thereafter transported to a new site, where it may be
quickly erected and re-
utilized in the manufacture of additional completed or substantially completed
houses or other
buildings at a new subdivision or other installation location. In doing so,
the readily portable
facility 1 is readily transportable, repositionable, and reusable as a
facility for the manufacture of
additional completed or substantially completed houses or buildings within, or
in close proximity
to, the new subdivision or other installation location.
In selecting the height of a readily portable facility, it is understood that
the height in a
portion of the readily portable facility 1 must be sufficient to enable the
construction, as more fully
described herein, of completed or substantially completed houses or buildings
therein, it being
understood that where multi-story houses are being constructed, or where
overhead cranes or other
equipment which will require additional height are to be utilized, the height
selected for the readily
portable facility would take into account these criteria.
Having regard to Figures 4A, 4B, SA, and SB, which illustrate the support
trusses 4 which
may be utilized in two embodiments of the present invention, Figures 4A and SA
illustrate a semi-
circular support truss system, while Figures 4B and SB illustrate an angular
support truss system, it
being understood that a worker skilled in the art could select or modify the
truss support system to
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be utilized in accordance with the physical needs of the facility, the
environmental loads expected
to be placed on the facility and other factors which are known to persons
skilled in the art.
Figures 6A and 6B illustrate a perspective view of two embodiments of the
facility, which,
in the preferred embodiment has a sheet of covering fabric or other material
securely mounted to the
support trusses 4, to provide a weather-tight structure in which to fabricate
houses or other buildings.
The readily portable facility 1, in the embodiments as shown in Figures 6A and
6B, are
constructed using, for example, support trusses 4 such as those illustrated in
Figures 4A and 4B
respectively. As illustrated in Figure 4A, in the preferred embodiment, each
of the support trusses
4 has an inner support member 6 and an outer support member 9, which in the
preferred embodiment
are formed from steel tubing of circular cross-section, it being understood
that alternative materials
and alternative configurations for these members which are known to persons
skilled in the art, may
alternatively be utilized. In the preferred embodiment, the inner support
member 6 is securely
connected, and in the preferred embodiment, welded to outer support member 9
utilizing steel truss
webbing 8, positioned between the inner support member 6 and the outer support
member 9, which
provides a truss component 10 having significant load bearing characteristics
with relatively light
weight.
Truss webbing 8 in the preferred embodiment is a steel tube of circular cross
section, it being
understood that tubing or channel with various different cross-sections could
also be utilized. It is
also understood that the inner and outer support members (6,9), and the truss
webbing 8 could be
constructed from aluminum of suitable thickness and strength, from laminated
wood, or from other
materials known to persons skilled in the art.
To provide additional ease in relation to the transport, assembly and
disassembly of the
support trusses 4, in the preferred embodiment, each of the support trusses 4
are formed from truss
components 10, which, when connected together, provide a complete support
truss 4. As illustrated
in Figures 4C and 4D, the preferred embodiment of the support trusses 4
illustrated in Figure 4A and
4B are shown in exploded view. The coupling plates 12 which are securely
attached to the truss
components 10 permit the truss components 10 to be securely connected together
to form a complete
CA 02469429 2004-06-O1
support truss 4. As is demonstrated in Figures 4A and 4B, a support truss 4 is
made up of a plurality
of truss components 10 in end to end alignment with each other. In the
preferred embodiment, the
truss components 10 are joined by bolts 13 through coupling bolt holes 14 in
coupling plates 12,
thus forming the support truss 4. While bolts and mating holes are shown in
this embodiment as the
manner in which to connect the truss components 10 together, it will be
readily understood by
persons skilled in the art that alternative connection means could be used and
are contemplated
within the scope of the invention. For example, clamps or other types of
fasteners might be used.
Base plates 15 are securely attached to the ends of those truss components 10
which will form
the ends of the support truss 4, allowing the support truss 4 to be firmly
anchored to the ground, floor
or wall. Preferably, the base plates 15 are welded to the ends of the truss
components 10 which will
form the end of the support truss 4. The base plates 15 are secured by
securing anchor bolts (not
shown) through the holes in the base plate (not shown) to the base surface,
or, alternatively, a floor
or wall, it being understood that a base surface implies the surface that the
support trusses rests upon,
including, but not limited to, a ground surface, a concrete pad, a wooden
platform or the like. For
example, the base surface upon which each of the support trusses 4 rest may be
a concrete pad,
wherein holes would be drilled into the concrete pad to receive the anchor
bolts passed through the
holes in the base plates 15. While anchor bolts are used in this embodiment as
the foundation
anchoring means, it will also be readily understood by persons skilled in the
art that other foundation
anchoring means might be employed as well and are contemplated within the
scope of the invention.
In an alternative embodiment, the bottom of each of the support trusses, which
are
essentially, the base plates connected to the ends of the support trusses, can
be mounted to a
foundation or floor pad 16 (as seen in Figures SA and SB) or otherwise
suitably anchored to securely
and stably support the truss 4 and the covering fabric or other material 17
providing the outer skin
of the facility and to provide additional structural integrity to the readily
portable facility. In this
embodiment, the base plates 15 are secured to the foundation or floor pad 16
by securing anchor
bolts (not shown) through holes in the base plate (not shown) into the
foundation or floor pad 16,
which rests on a ground surface.
Referencing Figures SA and SB, to erect the readily portable facility 1 of the
present
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invention, a number of completed support trusses 4 are laterally spaced on the
readily portable
facilities' foundation or floor pad 16, the support trusses 4 are raised, and
the base plates 15 are
secured by securing the base plates 15 to anchor bolts (not shown) extending
from the readily
portable facilities' foundation or floor pad 16 through holes in the base
plate (not shown). While
bolts are used in this embodiment as the foundation anchoring means, it will
also be readily
understood by persons skilled in the art that other foundation anchoring means
might be employed
as well and are contemplated within the scope of the invention. To provide
additional support for
the covering fabric or material 17 (as hereinafter described) which will cover
the readily portable
facility 1, horizontal support members 18 can be attached by conventional
means between adjacent
support trusses 4 at several locations along the perimeter of the support
trusses 4. As noted
previously, the height of the readily portable facility 1 can be increased by
connecting together
further truss components 10 to form the support truss 4, so that the interior
height of the readily
portable facility 1 is sufficient to permit the assembly of the completed or
substantially completed
houses or buildings therein. Conversely, removing truss components in forming
the truss support will
result in the interior height of the readily portable facility 1 being
lowered.
A covering fabric or material 17 is then pulled over the now aligned support
trusses 4 of the
readily portable facility l and secured by ropes or cables (not shown) to the
readily portable
facilities' foundation or floor pad 16 and secured by ropes or cables to the
truss supports 4, as can
be seen in Figures 6A and 6B. Generally, at least one opening (which is
designated as reference
numeral "19" in Figure 7), should be provided in the covering fabric or other
material 17, preferably
at each end of the portable facility 1, whereby building materials can be
introduced into the readily
portable facility 1, and where completed or substantially completed houses or
buildings can be
removed from the readily portable facility 1. Preferably however, two or more
openings should be
provided in the readily portable facility.
It is also understood that other means may be used to secure the covering
fabric or material
17 over the support trusses 4 of the readily portable facility 1, and these
could include, but are not
limited to, clamps, fasteners, or the like. Preferably, a covering fabric 17
will be used to cover the
readily portable facility 1, and will be of a light color having some
translucent characteristics to
permit a significant amount of natural light to permeate through the fabric,
and thus help to further
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illuminate the working environment within the readily portable facility 1,
whereby the internal
lighting of the readily portable facility 1 can be greatly enhanced. In this
manner, a naturally bright
interior is created, and visibility of the working areas within the readily
portable facility 1 can be
vastly improved.
While Figures SA and SB show the readily portable facility 1 as being covered
by a covering
fabric material 17, it will be understood that other means could be used to
cover the readily portable
facility 1, and those are contemplated within the scope of the invention as
well. These could include,
but are not limited to, covering the support trusses 4of the readily portable
facility 1 with, for
example, sheets of metal, or wood or plastic with the addition of suitable
cross supports.
It is a relatively simple and expedient process to disassemble and remove the
readily portable
facility 1 for transportation and relocation to another site. First, the
ropes, cables or other fastening
means holding the covering fabric or other material 17 over the support
trusses 4 of the portable
facility 1 are removed and the covering fabric or other material 17 is then
removed. Next, the support
trusses 4 of the readily portable facility 1 are taken down, whereby each of
the support trusses 4 are
removed from the readily portable facilities' foundation or floor pad 16. Any
horizontal support
members 18 are also removed from their attachment between any of the support
trusses 4. By
utilizing this simple manner of construction, the readily portable facility 1
can be easily and quickly
disassembled and then removed from the manufacturing site or installation
location, ready for
relocation, placement and quick erection at a new manufacturing site or
installation location.
The manufacture of complete or substantially complete houses or buildings
within the readily
portable facility 1 can be accomplished by utilizing traditional stick
building techniques or by using
fully or partially automated processes, including one or more assembly
production lines and/or one
or more sub-assembly production lines for the manufacture of the segments or
components houses
or buildings, or by any other suitable manner known to persons skilled in the
art.
When required, for example, building materials may be brought from material
storage areas
3 and 5 to the production line or area 11, or, directly to the fabrication
area 7, as shown in Figure
2, where they may then be used in the construction of the house or building at
the fabrication area
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7. It is understood that the production line or area 11 may simultaneously or
sequentially be used
for the manufacture of various different factory manufactured building
components. By way of
example only, it is conceivable that the production line or area would be used
for constructing floors
(or floor sections, or components of floor sections), and simultaneously or
immediately thereafter
for walls (or wall sections, or components of wall sections), and
simultaneously or immediately
thereafter for trusses (or for components of a roof section), it being
understood that the production
line or area may be utilized for the construction of a wide variety of
combinations of factory
manufactured building components in various different sequences, according to,
amongst other
things, the specific fabrication needs of the portable facility, and the
available supply of building
materials and labor.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the production line or area 11 can
be adapted
to produce a wide assortment of factory manufactured building components of
significantly different,
sizes, designs and/or customizations, as required, for later installation in
the house or building. For
example, the production line or area 11 may, when required, be used to firstly
produce, for example,
prefabricated floor panels which are then transported via transporter or
forklift (not shown) for
delivery and installation to the house or building being fabricated in the
fabrication area 7. Next, or
simultaneously, the production line or area 11 may then be used to manufacture
an entirely different
factory manufactured building component, for example, wall components, which
are to be installed
in the house or building being fabricated in the fabrication area 7. Next, or
simultaneously, the
production line or area 11 may then be used to build roof trusses for use and
installation in the house,
and so forth, the production line or area 11 of the present invention being
adaptable to produce
factory manufactured building components of significantly different sizes,
designs and/or
customizations, on an "as required basis" or for pre-utilization storage at or
near the readily portable
facility. It is understood that factory manufactured building components which
may be built on a
production line or area 11 include, for example, floors, walls, roofs,
trusses, gables, cabinets,
cupboards, partitions, or parts of any of these components. In this manner,
the production line or area
11 can be used to flexibly manufacture homes or buildings of significantly
different sizes, designs
and/or customizations within the readily portable facility 1.
As inferred in Figure 3, a completed or substantially completed factory
manufactured
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building component can be placed on, for example, a transporter or forklift
(not shown) for delivery
from the production line or area 11 to the house or building being constructed
in the fabrication
area 7. Alternatively, the factory manufactured building components may be
removed, upon
completion or substantial completion, from the production line or area 11 for
storage in storage areas
3, 5 for later delivery to the fabrication area 7 as required.
In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of production lines or areas, each
of which are
adaptable to produce factory manufactured building components of significantly
different sizes,
designs and/or customizations, can be provided in the readily portable
facility.
As referred to above, in the preferred embodiment, once the factory
manufactured building
components have been completed, or substantially completed, the factory
manufactured building
components may be placed on a transporter or forklift for delivery to the
fabrication area 7 or to
storage for subsequent utilization. It is understood that a transporter or
forklift may alternatively take
1 S one of many different configurations including one or more carts, wagons,
trailers, or other suitable
transport devices known to persons skilled in the art, provided that they are
suitably adapted for
transporting the finished or substantially completed factory manufactured
building components from
the production line or area 11 to the fabrication area 7, and is generally
capable of efficiently
handling and transporting the factory manufactured building components to its
destination, it being
understood that the transporter or forklift may be self propelled or may be
propelled by some other
means, for example a truck or tractor or similar device or (where available)
an overhead crane.
Once the factory manufactured building components arrive at the fabrication
area 7, further
preparation of the factory manufactured building components may be necessary,
such as, for
example, specific modifications to the factory manufactured building
components may be required
which were not contemplated when the factory manufactured building components
were at the
production line or area 11, or any other necessary on-site adjustments or
alterations to the factory
manufactured building components during the installation process. It is
understood that in the
fabrication area 7, the factory manufactured building components may be
incorporated into the
house being constructed therein.
CA 02469429 2004-06-O1
It is also understood that the readily portable facility 1 may contain more
than one building
sites within the fabrication area 7 where houses are being constructed, it
being understood that in
other embodiments the readily portable facility may contain only one building
site within a
fabrication area 7, while in other embodiments two, or more than two building
sites may be utilized.
A house or building which is completed or substantially completed at the
readily portable
facility may then be moved from the readily portable facility to the
subdivision or installation
location for installation on footings or a foundation located therein.
In an alternative embodiment, a significant segment, section or portion of a
house (or, one
or more segments of a house) or building can be constructed in a readily
portable facility of the
present invention, in which the significant segment, section or portion of the
house (or, one or more
segments of a house) or building can thereafter be combined with one or more
other similarly
constructed significant segments, sections or portions of a house or building
at the installation
location or foundation site to form a complete or substantially complete house
or building, the
segments, sections or portions each representing a significant volumetric
aspect of the completed
house or building, and typically greater than 10% of the volume of the
completed house or building.
The segment or segments can be transported from the readily portable facility
to the installation
location or foundation site by way of a transporter, such as a truck trailer
or similar device known
to a person skilled in the art, and thereafter unloaded therefrom and
installed at the installation
location or foundation site. It is also understood that the segments may be
moved to or from the
transporter, or at the installation location by crane or by other devices
known to a person skilled in
the art.
In a still further embodiment of the present invention, a compact version of
the readily
portable facility of the present invention can be erected and placed so as to
directly cover one or
more foundation sites in the subdivision or other location. In this manner,
the house or building can
be assembled within the readily portable facility directly upon the foundation
site, utilizing
traditional stick building techniques or may be assembled from building
components or pre-
manufactured building components. In this manner, numerous readily portable
facilities can be used
in a subdivision at any time, upon multiple foundation sites. In this
embodiment, the readily portable
16
CA 02469429 2004-06-O1
facility of the present invention can be erected and placed upon, for example,
multiple tracked
vehicles or other similar devices to permit the movement of the facility from
foundation to
foundation. Once the house or building has been completed or substantially
completed, the house
or building can be transferred from the transporter onto the foundation site.
In this embodiment, the
readily portable facility will have at least two openings, preferably at
either end of the facility,
whereby materials can be introduced and the completed or substantially
completed house or building
can be removed.
It is also understood that the method of the present invention may be utilized
to construct
dwellings in various formats, including, but not limited to, duplexes,
triplexes, townhouses, row
houses, semi-detached houses and singles, and may be utilized in the
construction of office, retail
and other commercial buildings.
The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred
embodiments.
However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of
variations and
modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as
described herein.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention provides an improved readily portable facility and
method for
manufacturing at least one house or other building in a readily portable
facility for later
transportation and installation of the house or other building to a foundation
site. When the house
or building has been removed from the readily portable facility and placed at
the installation location,
the readily portable facility can be quickly disassembled and removed from its
location closely
proximate to the installation location, transported to a new manufacturing
site, and easily and quickly
erected and re-used to begin manufacture of further houses or buildings at a
new installation location,
the new manufacturing site being closely proximate to the new installation
location.
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