US4641477A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable modular building
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1986-01-06
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Granted: 1987-02-10
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Expires: 2006-01-06
Abstract
Abstract An adjustable modular building unit is used to construct a truss structure of any given size and shape which is joined with other truss structures to form a building. Before adjustment, the modular building unit has a six-sided rectangular parallelepiped shape. However, the bottom of the modular building unit and a diagonal brace member are adjustable in length so that the vertical, lengthwise cross section of the modular building unit is adjustable to various isosceles trapezoidal configurations. Preferably, the modular building unit is constructed of various chord members so that each side forming the trapezoidal configuration is rotatably connected to the adjacent side and the diagonal brace member provides stability. In order to construct the truss, each building unit is releasably attached to an adjacent building unit which has been appropriately adjusted. A base unit for each end of the truss is also provided which includes a rotatably side supporting plate. With such base units, the truss is connected in a plane parallel to horizontal and raised to vertical about the pivot axes of the base units.
Inventors
- 👤 Herman A. Schleck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:56
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04C; E04C3/00; E04C3/38; E04C3/40; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/18; E04B1/343; E04B1/34315; E04B1/34326
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
An adjustable modular building unit comprising: a generally rectangular top side; a left side and a right side which depend from said top side; a bottom side connecting said left side and said right side; side connecting means for rotatably connecting adjacent said sides, including a top-left connecting means, a top-right connecting means, a bottom-left connecting means, and a bottom-right connecting means; a bottom adjusting means for adjusting the length of said bottom side; a diagonal brace member extending diagonally between two of said side connecting means whereby said sides are held against relative rotation; brace connecting means for rotatably connecting said brace member to the two side connecting means; and a brace adjusting means for adjusting the length of said brace member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
An adjustable modular building unit comprising: a generally rectangular top side; a left side and a right side which depend from said top side; a bottom side connecting said left side and said right side; side connecting means for rotatably connecting adjacent said sides, including a top-left connecting means, a top-right connecting means, a bottom-left connecting means, and a bottom-right connecting means; a bottom adjusting means for adjusting the length of said bottom side; a diagonal brace member extending diagonally between two of said side connecting means whereby said sides are held against relative rotation; brace connecting means for rotatably connecting said brace member to the two side connecting means; and a brace adjusting means for adjusting the length of said brace member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An adjustable modular building unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said building unit has a six-sided parallelepiped shape including a generally rectangular left side, right side, and bottom side.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
134 words
An adjustable modular building unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein said top side is formed of two top chord members of equal length which extend parallel to one another between said top-left connecting means and said top-right connecting means, wherein said bottom side is formed of two bottom chord members which extend parallel to one another and to said top chord members between said bottom-left connecting means and said bottom-right connecting means, wherein said right side is formed of two right chord members which extend parallel to one another between said top-right connecting means and said bottom-right connecting means, and wherein said left side is formed of two left chord members which extend parallel to one another and to said right chord members between said top-left connecting means and said bottom-left connecting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
An adjustable modular building unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein each one of said chord members has opposite ends in the form of a rigid collar with a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the respective said chord member, and wherein each of said connecting means includes an axle passing through respective said adjacent collars.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An adjustable modular building unit as claimed in claim 4 wherein said brace adjusting means and said bottom adjusting means are turnbuckle members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
247 words
A truss structure comprising: a plurality of modular building units, each said building unit having a six-sided parallelepiped shape and including: (a) generally rectangular top, bottom, left and right sides, (b) a top-left connecting means for rotatably connecting said top side to said left side and a top-right connecting means for rotatably connecting said top side to said right side, (c) a bottom-left connecting means for rotatably connecting said bottom side to said left side and a bottom-right connecting means for rotatably connecting said bottom side to said right side, (d) a bottom adjusting means for adjusting the length of said bottom side between said left side and said right side, (e) a diagonal brace member extending between one set of (i) said top-left connecting means and said bottom-right connecting means and (ii) said top-right connecting means and said bottom-left connecting means, whereby said sides are held against relative rotation, (f) a top connecting means and a bottom connecting means for rotatably connecting said brace member to said one set of connecting means, and (g) a brace adjusting means for adjusting the length of said brace member; and an attaching means for attaching said right side of one said building unit to said left side of an adjacent said building unit such that a string of attached said building units form the truss structure which is configured as desired by varying the lengths of said bottom side and said diagonal brace member of each said building unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
247 words
A truss structure comprising: a plurality of modular building units, each said building unit having a six-sided parallelepiped shape and including: (a) generally rectangular top, bottom, left and right sides, (b) a top-left connecting means for rotatably connecting said top side to said left side and a top-right connecting means for rotatably connecting said top side to said right side, (c) a bottom-left connecting means for rotatably connecting said bottom side to said left side and a bottom-right connecting means for rotatably connecting said bottom side to said right side, (d) a bottom adjusting means for adjusting the length of said bottom side between said left side and said right side, (e) a diagonal brace member extending between one set of (i) said top-left connecting means and said bottom-right connecting means and (ii) said top-right connecting means and said bottom-left connecting means, whereby said sides are held against relative rotation, (f) a top connecting means and a bottom connecting means for rotatably connecting said brace member to said one set of connecting means, and (g) a brace adjusting means for adjusting the length of said brace member; and an attaching means for attaching said right side of one said building unit to said left side of an adjacent said building unit such that a string of attached said building units form the truss structure which is configured as desired by varying the lengths of said bottom side and said diagonal brace member of each said building unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
A truss structure as claimed in claim 6 and further including a base unit comprising: a base member, a side engaging member, an attaching means for attaching one of said left side and said right side of an end building unit of the truss structure to said side engaging member, and a pivot means for pivotally attaching said side engaging member to said base member for rotation about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of said one of said left side and right side.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A truss structure as claimed in claim 7 wherein there is a said base unit at each end of the truss structure and wherein each said base member includes wheels mounted thereto whereby said truss structure is movable on said wheels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
178 words
A truss structure as claimed in claim 8: wherein each said top side is formed of two top chord members of equal length which extend parallel to one another between said top-left connecting means and said top-right connecting means, wherein said bottom side is formed of two bottom chord members which extend parallel to one another and to said top chord members between said bottom-left connecting means and said bottom-right connecting means, wherein said right side is formed of two right chord members which extend parallel to one another between said top-right connecting means and said bottom-right connecting means, and wherein said left side is formed of two left chord members which extend parallel to one another and to said right chord members between said top-left connecting means and said bottom-left connecting means; and wherein each one of said chord members has opposite ends in the form of a rigid collar with a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the respective said chord member, and wherein each of said connecting means includes an axle passing through respective said adjacent collars.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A truss structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein said attaching means attaches said axles of one said building unit to respective adjacent said axles of an adjacent building unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A truss structure as claimed in claim 10 wherein said attaching means includes a releasable holding means for releasably holding said adjacent axles together.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A truss structure as claimed in claim 11 wherein said releasable holding means is a bolt which passes through both said adjacent axles and a nut secured to said bolt.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-02-09 | 1990-08-11 | 1991-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-09 | 1994-08-11 | 1995-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-09 | 1998-08-11 | 1999-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |