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US3871146A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Constant module system

Assignee: TREBRON HOLDINGS Ltd
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Filing: 1974-03-13
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Granted: 1975-03-18
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Expires: 1994-03-13
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Abstract

Abstract A modular construction system comprised of a plurality of modular constructional units which are capable of being linked to similar modules in order to form a chain or constructed assembly thereof. The modular units are formed or constructed with similar modular segments each having a pair of opposed frame-like members with a connecting substrate extending therebetween. End and side enclosure panels may be connected to the constructed unit. These units may be used in the construction of structural members such as buildings or bridges, or as containers for transport of cargo or in other applications.

Inventors

  • 👤 Norbert Hamy

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 04:19
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01D; E01D1/00; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/348; E04B1/34815; E01D2101/00; E01D2101/30; E01D2101/34; E01D2101/40; E04B1/35; E04B2001/3583

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim 643 words
A hollow generally rectangular modular construction unit constructed with a plurality of generally similar end frames which are joined together to form the generally rectangular modular construction unit, said modular construction unit comprising: a. a first pair of opposed spaced-apart generally parallel end frame segments, b. a second pair of opposed spaced-apart generally parallel end frame segments, c. each of the end frame segments in said first pair of segments being substantially identical in construction to the end frame segments in said second pair of end frame segments, d. each of said end frame segments comprising; 1. a first limb, a. said first limb having a pair of spaced-apart plates, b. extension means connecting said plates together in said spaced-apart relationship, c. means forming an elongated slot at one end of said first limb between said plate, d. one of said spaced-apart plates having an outwardly presented first connecting end wall, e. the other of said second-apart plates having an outwardly presented second end wall, 2. a second limb at a mutually angled relationship with respect to said first limb, a. said second limb having a plurality of angularly located side walls forming a hollow tubular member, b. projection means extending outwardly from the plane of one of said side walls and being sized for snug fitting disposition within the slot in said first limb, e. said first pair of said end frame segments being capable of being joined together to form a first end frame, f. first connecting means for connecting the first pair of end frame segments together to form the first end frame, g. said second pair of end frame segments being capable of being joined together to form a second end frame, h. second connecting means for connecting the second pair of end frame segments together to form the second end frame, i. said first and second end frames capable of being joined together to form a generally rectangular modular unit, j. third connecting means for connecting the first end frame to the second end frame to thereby form said generally rectangular modular unit, k. a first generally rectangular base member for use with said first end frame, l. a second generally rectangular base member for use with said second end frame, m. each of said base members being substantially identical in construction and 1. each said base member having first and second pairs opposed and generally side margins, 2. each said base member also having a first generally planar major surface, 3. each said base member further having a second generally planar major surface opposed to said first major surface, n. first securement means for connecting each of the first pair of side margins of the first base member to the respective connecting end walls of the first pair of end frame segments in the first end frame, o. second securement means for connecting each of the first pair of margins of the second base member to the respective connecting end walls of the second pAir of end frame segments in the second end frame, p. the connecting walls of the end frame segments in each said pair of end frames being located in abutting engagement with each of the respective first pair of side margins of the associated base members, q. the end frame segments in each of said pair of end frames extending outwardly and in generally perpendicular relationship to the opposed planar major surfaces of the associated base members, r. said first and second base members each having one of their margins in the second pair of parallel side margins in juxtaposed abutting engagement when the first and second end frames are connected together, and s. the first generally planar surface of each of said first and second base members are coplanar and generally coextensive when the first and second end frames are connected together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 643 words
A hollow generally rectangular modular construction unit constructed with a plurality of generally similar end frames which are joined together to form the generally rectangular modular construction unit, said modular construction unit comprising: a. a first pair of opposed spaced-apart generally parallel end frame segments, b. a second pair of opposed spaced-apart generally parallel end frame segments, c. each of the end frame segments in said first pair of segments being substantially identical in construction to the end frame segments in said second pair of end frame segments, d. each of said end frame segments comprising; 1. a first limb, a. said first limb having a pair of spaced-apart plates, b. extension means connecting said plates together in said spaced-apart relationship, c. means forming an elongated slot at one end of said first limb between said plate, d. one of said spaced-apart plates having an outwardly presented first connecting end wall, e. the other of said second-apart plates having an outwardly presented second end wall, 2. a second limb at a mutually angled relationship with respect to said first limb, a. said second limb having a plurality of angularly located side walls forming a hollow tubular member, b. projection means extending outwardly from the plane of one of said side walls and being sized for snug fitting disposition within the slot in said first limb, e. said first pair of said end frame segments being capable of being joined together to form a first end frame, f. first connecting means for connecting the first pair of end frame segments together to form the first end frame, g. said second pair of end frame segments being capable of being joined together to form a second end frame, h. second connecting means for connecting the second pair of end frame segments together to form the second end frame, i. said first and second end frames capable of being joined together to form a generally rectangular modular unit, j. third connecting means for connecting the first end frame to the second end frame to thereby form said generally rectangular modular unit, k. a first generally rectangular base member for use with said first end frame, l. a second generally rectangular base member for use with said second end frame, m. each of said base members being substantially identical in construction and 1. each said base member having first and second pairs opposed and generally side margins, 2. each said base member also having a first generally planar major surface, 3. each said base member further having a second generally planar major surface opposed to said first major surface, n. first securement means for connecting each of the first pair of side margins of the first base member to the respective connecting end walls of the first pair of end frame segments in the first end frame, o. second securement means for connecting each of the first pair of margins of the second base member to the respective connecting end walls of the second pAir of end frame segments in the second end frame, p. the connecting walls of the end frame segments in each said pair of end frames being located in abutting engagement with each of the respective first pair of side margins of the associated base members, q. the end frame segments in each of said pair of end frames extending outwardly and in generally perpendicular relationship to the opposed planar major surfaces of the associated base members, r. said first and second base members each having one of their margins in the second pair of parallel side margins in juxtaposed abutting engagement when the first and second end frames are connected together, and s. the first generally planar surface of each of said first and second base members are coplanar and generally coextensive when the first and second end frames are connected together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 12 words
each said base member also having a first generally planar major surface,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 12 words
each said base member also having a first generally planar major surface,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 222 words
a second limb at a mutually angled relationship with respect to said first limb, a. said second limb having a plurality of angularly located side walls forming a hollow tubular member, b. projection means extending outwardly from the plane of one of said side walls and being sized for snug fitting disposition within the slot in said first limb, e. said first pair of said end frame segments being capable of being joined together to form a first end frame, f. first connecting means for connecting the first pair of end frame segments together to form the first end frame, g. said second pair of end frame segments being capable of being joined together to form a second end frame, h. second connecting means for connecting the second pair of end frame segments together to form the second end frame, i. said first and second end frames capable of being joined together to form a generally rectangular modular unit, j. third connecting means for connecting the first end frame to the second end frame to thereby form said generally rectangular modular unit, k. a first generally rectangular base member for use with said first end frame, l. a second generally rectangular base member for use with said second end frame, m. each of said base members being substantially identical in construction and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 222 words
a second limb at a mutually angled relationship with respect to said first limb, a. said second limb having a plurality of angularly located side walls forming a hollow tubular member, b. projection means extending outwardly from the plane of one of said side walls and being sized for snug fitting disposition within the slot in said first limb, e. said first pair of said end frame segments being capable of being joined together to form a first end frame, f. first connecting means for connecting the first pair of end frame segments together to form the first end frame, g. said second pair of end frame segments being capable of being joined together to form a second end frame, h. second connecting means for connecting the second pair of end frame segments together to form the second end frame, i. said first and second end frames capable of being joined together to form a generally rectangular modular unit, j. third connecting means for connecting the first end frame to the second end frame to thereby form said generally rectangular modular unit, k. a first generally rectangular base member for use with said first end frame, l. a second generally rectangular base member for use with said second end frame, m. each of said base members being substantially identical in construction and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
The modular construction unit of claim 1, wherein the extension means connecting together said spaced-apart plates of said first limb are tubular extension means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 261 words
a second limb at a mutually angled relationship with respect to said first limb, a. said second limb having a plurality of angularly located side walls forming a hollow tubular member, b. projection means extending outwardly from the plane of one of said side walls and being sized for snug fitting disposition within the slot in said first limb, c. said pair of said end frame segments being capable of being joined together to form an end frame, d. connecting means for connecting the pair of end frame segments together to form the end frame, e. securement means for connecting each of the first pair of side margins of the substrate member to the respective connecting end walls of the first limbs forming part of the pair of end frame segments, f. the connecting end walls of the first limb in each end frame segment being located in abutting engagement with each of the first pair of side margins of the substrate member, g. the end frame segments extending outwardly and in generally perpendicular relationship to the opposed planar major surfaces of the substrate member, and h. said substrate member extending for substantially the greater portion of the length of said first limb on each end frame segment, so that when two base units are assembled together, the substrate member of one base unit will be coplanar with and will have one side margin of the second pair of side margins in juxtaposed abutting relationship to a like side margin of the planar substrate member associated with the other base unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 261 words
a second limb at a mutually angled relationship with respect to said first limb, a. said second limb having a plurality of angularly located side walls forming a hollow tubular member, b. projection means extending outwardly from the plane of one of said side walls and being sized for snug fitting disposition within the slot in said first limb, c. said pair of said end frame segments being capable of being joined together to form an end frame, d. connecting means for connecting the pair of end frame segments together to form the end frame, e. securement means for connecting each of the first pair of side margins of the substrate member to the respective connecting end walls of the first limbs forming part of the pair of end frame segments, f. the connecting end walls of the first limb in each end frame segment being located in abutting engagement with each of the first pair of side margins of the substrate member, g. the end frame segments extending outwardly and in generally perpendicular relationship to the opposed planar major surfaces of the substrate member, and h. said substrate member extending for substantially the greater portion of the length of said first limb on each end frame segment, so that when two base units are assembled together, the substrate member of one base unit will be coplanar with and will have one side margin of the second pair of side margins in juxtaposed abutting relationship to a like side margin of the planar substrate member associated with the other base unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 10 words
said substrate member also having a first major planar surface,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 10 words
said substrate member also having a first major planar surface,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 36 words
said substrate member further having a second major planar surface opposed to said first major planar surface, b. a pair of opposed spaced-apart generally parallel end frame segments, c. each of said end frame segments comprising:
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 36 words
said substrate member further having a second major planar surface opposed to said first major planar surface, b. a pair of opposed spaced-apart generally parallel end frame segments, c. each of said end frame segments comprising:
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 226 words
each said base member further having a second generally planar major surface opposed to said first major surface, n. first securement means for connecting each of the first pair of side margins of the first base member to the respective connecting end walls of the first pair of end frame segments in the first end frame, o. second securement means for connecting each of the first pair of margins of the second base member to the respective connecting end walls of the second pAir of end frame segments in the second end frame, p. the connecting walls of the end frame segments in each said pair of end frames being located in abutting engagement with each of the respective first pair of side margins of the associated base members, q. the end frame segments in each of said pair of end frames extending outwardly and in generally perpendicular relationship to the opposed planar major surfaces of the associated base members, r. said first and second base members each having one of their margins in the second pair of parallel side margins in juxtaposed abutting engagement when the first and second end frames are connected together, and s. the first generally planar surface of each of said first and second base members are coplanar and generally coextensive when the first and second end frames are connected together.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 226 words
each said base member further having a second generally planar major surface opposed to said first major surface, n. first securement means for connecting each of the first pair of side margins of the first base member to the respective connecting end walls of the first pair of end frame segments in the first end frame, o. second securement means for connecting each of the first pair of margins of the second base member to the respective connecting end walls of the second pAir of end frame segments in the second end frame, p. the connecting walls of the end frame segments in each said pair of end frames being located in abutting engagement with each of the respective first pair of side margins of the associated base members, q. the end frame segments in each of said pair of end frames extending outwardly and in generally perpendicular relationship to the opposed planar major surfaces of the associated base members, r. said first and second base members each having one of their margins in the second pair of parallel side margins in juxtaposed abutting engagement when the first and second end frames are connected together, and s. the first generally planar surface of each of said first and second base members are coplanar and generally coextensive when the first and second end frames are connected together.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 27 words
The modular construction unit of claim 1, wherein said second limb is provided with four angularly located side walls to form a rectangularly shaped hollow tubular member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 28 words
The modular construction unit of claim 1, wherein each of said end frame segments is comprised of a pair of first limbs and a pair of second limbs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 109 words
The modular construction unit of claim 1, wherein a first planar member similar in construction to said first base member extends between and is secured to the first and second end frame segments of said first end frame, and wherein said first planar member is spaced from and lies in generally parallel relationship to said first base member, and a second planar member similar in construction to said second base member extends between and is secured to the first and second end frame segments of the second end frame, and wherein said second planar member is spaced from and lies in generally parallel relationship to said second base member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 33 words
The modular construction unit of claim 1, wherein the basic internal dimensions of said modular units are altered by insertion of splicing elements between the base members associated with adjacent end frame segments.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 57 words
The modular construction unit of claim 1, wherein at least the first pair of said end frame segments includes at least one aperture extending therethrough and the first base member includes at least one aperture extending between said opposed pair of major surfaces of said first base member, and which apertures are in communication with each other.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 32 words
A combination of a plurality of the modular construction units of claim 1 being assembled and secured together in an end to end relationship, and means for fixedly securing said units together.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 76 words
The combination of claim 8, wherein at least one pair of end frame segments and the associated base member of the first end frame in each modular construction unit includes at least one axially extending aperture between said opposed pair of major faces in the base member, and tensioning means extending between adjacent joined modular construction units, said tensioning means being adapted to tension said combination of units without placing said modular construction units under tension.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 50 words
The modular construction unit of claim 5, wherein the first planar member associated with one of the first end frame lies in juxtaposed butting side-to-side relationship with the second planar member associated with the other of the second end frame when the first and second end frames are joined together.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 32 words
A one-piece segmented base unit suitable for forming a modular construction unit with generally similar base units when assembled together, each said one-piece base unit comprising: a. a generally planar substrate member,
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 32 words
A one-piece segmented base unit suitable for forming a modular construction unit with generally similar base units when assembled together, each said one-piece base unit comprising: a. a generally planar substrate member,
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 25 words
The one-piece segmented base unit of claim 11, wherein the extension means connecting together said spaced-apart plates of said first limb are tubular extension means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 28 words
The one-piece segmented base unit of claim 11, wherein said second limb is provided with four angularly located side walls to form a rectangularly shaped hollow tubular member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 29 words
The one-piece segmented base unit of claim 11, wherein each of said end frame segments is comprised of a pair of first limbs and a pair of second limbs.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 53 words
The one-piece segmented base unit of claim 11, wherein a second substrate member similar in construction to said first named substrate member extends between and is secured to the end frame segments, and wherein said second substrate member is spaced from and lies in generally parallel relationship to said first named substrate member.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 50 words
The one-piece segmented base unit of claim 11, wherein said end frame segments include at least one aperture extending therethrough, and the substrate member includes at least one aperture extending between said opposed pair of major surfaces of said substrate member, and which apertures are in communication with each other.

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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) 1978-03-17 1978-09-16 1979-03-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-03-17 1982-09-16 1983-03-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-03-17 1986-09-16 1987-03-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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