US3731440A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collapsible prefabricated building
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-04-13
•
Granted: 1973-05-08
•
Expires: 1991-04-13
Abstract
Abstract A collapsible prefabricated building is composed of walls some or all of which may be made up of plate sections connected by ropes or hinges in such a manner that they can be folded together to make a package composed of the superimposed stacked plate sections, with the building being erectable simply by folding the plates apart and having them assume their predetermined relative positions.
Inventors
- 👤 H Welz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:06
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/343; E04B1/344; E04B1/3442; E04B1/3444; E04B1/345
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A collapsible prefabricated building, comprising wall means adapted to surround an enclosed space and composed at least in part of a plurality of plate sections at least some of which are composed of two transversely spaced cover layers and a layer of foam material sandwiched between the same and provided with a plurality of elongated, transversely spaced parallel hollows extending between opposite edge portions of the respective plate section and having spaced end portions; a tubular member inserted into and accommodated in the respective end portion; and linking means, comprising a plurality of elongated flexible elements each having portions extending through respective ones of said hollows in adjacent ones of said at least some plate sections and linking said wall means for relative movement of said plate sections in a sense enabling displacement of the latter between an erected condition in which sad wall means surrounds said enclosed space, and a folded condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A collapsible prefabricated building, comprising wall means adapted to surround an enclosed space and composed at least in part of a plurality of plate sections at least some of which are composed of two transversely spaced cover layers and a layer of foam material sandwiched between the same and provided with a plurality of elongated, transversely spaced parallel hollows extending between opposite edge portions of the respective plate section and having spaced end portions; a tubular member inserted into and accommodated in the respective end portion; and linking means, comprising a plurality of elongated flexible elements each having portions extending through respective ones of said hollows in adjacent ones of said at least some plate sections and linking said wall means for relative movement of said plate sections in a sense enabling displacement of the latter between an erected condition in which sad wall means surrounds said enclosed space, and a folded condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A building as defined in claim 1, said wall means comprising a plurality of wall elements rigidly connected and defining a basic module; and wherein said plate sections are linked with said basic module and adapted, when in said erected condition, to define at least in part at least one additional module.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A building as defined in claim 2, said additional module having a flooR, a ceiling and a plurality of side walls connecting said floor with said ceiling; said floor, said ceiling and at least one of said side walls being composed of said plate sections; and wherein said linking means links at least two of said plate sections with said basic module.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A building as defined in claim 1, wherein said building has a floor, a ceiling, and side walls and end walls connecting said floor and said ceiling; and wherein all of said walls, said floor and said ceiling are composed of said plate sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A building as defined in claim 1, said wall means defining a floor, lateral walls and a ceiling of said building, and wherein said ceiling has lateral margins in the region of said lateral walls; and further comprising a reinforcing rail of substantially L-shaped cross-section extending along at least one of said margins and having one arm connected thereto and an other arm extending upwardly from said one arm and along the same.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A building as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubular members are adhesively secured in the respective end portions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A building as defined in claim 1, said some plate sections having respective edge faces; and cover strips covering at least some of said edge faces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A building as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible elements are glass-fiber ropes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A building as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible elements comprise glass-fiber ropes and sheaths of synthetic plastic material surrounding the respective ropes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A building as defined in claim 1, adjacent ones of said plate sections having respective edge faces which abut when said sections are in erected condition; and further comprising sealing elements extending at least along said edge faces for sealing the juncture between the adjacent sections when the latter are in said erected condition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A building as defined in claim 10, wherein said sealing elements are sealing lips of sealingly conformable synthetic plastic material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
A building as defined in claim 1, adjacent ones of said plate sections having respective edge portions which in erected condition of said plate sections are proximal and define a juncture; and further comprising flexible foil members provided at sides of said plates which in erected condition of the latter face outwardly of said building, said foil members bridging the spacing between said edge portions and overlying said juncture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
A building as defined in claim 1, said elongated flexible elements having spaced terminal portions; and wherein at least one of said spaced terminal portions is provided with a tensioning member having a tapped bore into which a tensioning bolt may be threaded.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A building as defined in claim 13; and further comprising biasing means acting upon the respective tensioning member in a sense tending to tension the elongated flexible member associated therewith.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A building as defined in claim 14, wherein said biasing means comprises pressure-exerting expansion spring means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A building as defined in claim 13, said plate sections having recesses of a diameter greater than the respective hollows and each coaxial with one of the same; and said tensioning members each being lodged in one of said recesses.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-07 | 1976-11-06 | 1977-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-07 | 1980-11-06 | 1981-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-07 | 1984-11-06 | 1985-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |