Stall apparatus and method

Abstract

A stall apparatus and method according to which a stall module includes a plurality of panels and support members.

1 . A stall apparatus comprising: 
 a first stall module comprising: 
 a plurality of panels wherein each panel is connected to at least one other panel adjacent thereto; and  
 a plurality of first support members wherein each of the first support members comprises a first channel therein within which at least one panel in the plurality of panels at least partially extends.  
   
   
   
       2 . The stall apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each connection between each pair of adjacent panels defines an internal corner; and 
 wherein each first support member is associated with the internal corner defined by a corresponding pair of adjacent panels wherein each first support member further comprises a second channel therein wherein one panel in the corresponding pair of adjacent panels at least partially extends within the first channel and the other panel in the corresponding pair of adjacent panels at least partially extends within the second channel.    
   
   
       3 . The stall apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the first stall module further comprises optionally at least one second support member comprising a third channel therein, wherein the at least one second support member is adapted to be positioned between two first support members so that one panel in the plurality of panels at least partially extends within the third channel of the at least one second support member.  
   
   
       4 . The stall apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the first stall module further comprises optionally at least one shim disposed between the one panel in the plurality of panels and the at least one second support member if present.  
   
   
       5 . The stall apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the at least one second support member and the first support members are each composed of concrete.  
   
   
       6 . The stall apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the first stall module is adapted to function as a horse stall and wherein each panel is composed of concrete.  
   
   
       7 . The stall apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the first stall module further comprises optionally at least one shim disposed between at least one first support member and the corresponding at least one panel in the plurality of panels.  
   
   
       8 . The stall apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the first stall module is freestanding.  
   
   
       9 . The stall apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a second stall module removably connected to the first stall module wherein at least one panel in the plurality of panels of the first stall module is shared by the first and second stall modules so that at least two first support members of the first stall module are shared by the first and second stall modules.  
   
   
       10 . The stall apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the first and second stall modules are arranged in a configuration selected from the group consisting of a back-to-back configuration and a side-to-side configuration.  
   
   
       11 . The stall apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the first and second stall modules are arranged in a side-to-side configuration; wherein at least one other panel in the plurality of panels of the first stall module is shared by the first and second stall modules; and wherein the at least one other panel in the plurality of panels of the first stall module that is shared by the first and second stall modules is connected to the at least one panel in the plurality of panels of the first stall module that is shared by the first and second stall modules.  
   
   
       12 . A modular stall apparatus comprising: 
 a freestanding plurality of stall modules wherein each stall module is removably connected to at least one other stall module; and    wherein each stall module comprises: 
 a plurality of panels, 
 wherein each panel is connected to at least one other panel adjacent thereto,  
 wherein at least one panel is shared by at least one other stall module, and  
 wherein each connection between each pair of adjacent panels defines an internal corner of the stall module; and  
 
 a plurality of corner support members, 
 wherein each corner support member is associated with an internal corner of the stall module defined by a corresponding pair of adjacent panels,  
 wherein each corner support member comprises first and second channels therein, and  
 wherein one panel in the corresponding pair of adjacent panels at least partially extends within the first channel and the other panel in the corresponding pair of adjacent panels at least partially extends within the second channel.  
 
   
   
   
       13 . The modular stall apparatus of  claim 12  wherein each stall module further comprises optionally at least one in-line support member comprising a third channel therein, wherein the at least one in-line support member is adapted to be positioned between two corner support members so that one panel in the plurality of panels at least partially extends within the third channel of the in-line support member.  
   
   
       14 . The modular stall apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the at least one in-line support member and the corner support members are each composed of concrete.  
   
   
       15 . The modular stall apparatus of  claim 12  wherein each stall module is adapted to function as a horse stall and wherein each panel is composed of concrete.  
   
   
       16 . The modular stall apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the modular stall apparatus comprises at least four stall modules and wherein one corner support member is shared by the at least four stall modules so that the one corner support member is associated with an internal corner of each of the at least four stall modules.  
   
   
       17 . The modular stall apparatus of  claim 12  wherein at least two removably connected stall modules are arranged in a configuration selected from the group consisting of a side-to-side configuration and a back-to-back configuration.  
   
   
       18 . A method comprising: 
 assembling a freestanding stall module wherein the step of assembling comprises: 
 providing a pair of spaced corner support members wherein each corner support member comprises first and second channels therein;  
 positioning a first panel so that the first panel at least partially extends within one of the first and second channels of each corner support member in the pair of spaced corner support members; and  
 connecting a second panel to the first panel so that the second panel at least partially extends within one of the first and second channels of one of the corner support members in the pair of spaced corner support members.  
   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the step of assembling further comprises: 
 providing another pair of corner support members wherein each corner support member comprises first and second channels therein;    connecting a third panel to the second panel; and    positioning the another pair of corner support members so that the second panel at least partially extends within one of the first and second channels of one of the corner support members in the another pair of corner support members and so that the third panel at least partially extends within one of the first and second channels of each of the corner support members in the another pair of corner support members.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the step of assembling further comprises positioning an in-line support member comprising a third channel therein so that one of the first and second panels at least partially extends within the third channel.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising assembling at least one other stall module so that at least one of the first and second panels is shared by the freestanding stall module and the at least one other stall module.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the step of assembling further comprises leveling at least one of the first and second panels.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the step of leveling comprises disposing a shim between the at least one of the first and second panels and one of the corner support members in the pair of spaced corner support members.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the step of assembling further comprises positioning an in-line support member comprising a third channel therein so that one of the first and second panels at least partially extends within the third channel; and 
 wherein the step of leveling comprises disposing a shim between the one of the first and second panels and the in-line support member.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the stall module is adapted to function as a horse stall and wherein the panels are each composed of concrete.  
   
   
       26 . An apparatus for supporting a panel of a stall module, the apparatus comprising a support member composed of concrete, and at least one channel formed in the support member and adapted to receive the panel so that the panel at least partially extends within the channel and engages at least one surface of the support member defined by the channel.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the stall module is adapted to function as a horse stall and wherein at least one other surface of the support member defined by the channel is adapted to facilitate the ability of the panel to withstand a load.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 26  further comprising one or more openings formed in the support member for draining liquid.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 26  further comprising optionally one or more shims disposed in the channel for leveling the panel.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 26  further comprising at least one other channel formed in the support member and adapted to receive another panel so that the another panel at least partially extends within the at least one other channel and engages at least one other surface of the support member defined by the at least one other channel.  
   
   
       31 . A method comprising: 
 assembling a first stall module, the step of assembling comprising: 
 providing a plurality of panels wherein each panel is adjacent to at least one other panel;  
 connecting at least one pair of adjacent panels;  
 positioning a plurality of support members so that each panel at least partially extends within a first channel of at least one support member.  
   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein each support member is composed of concrete.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the first stall module is adapted to function as a horse stall and wherein each panel is composed of concrete.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising disposing a shim between at least one panel and the corresponding at least one support member.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising assembling a second stall module so that one or more panels are shared by the first and second stall modules.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the first and second stall modules are arranged in a configuration selected from the group consisting of a side-to-side configuration and a back-to-back configuration.  
   
   
       37 . A stall apparatus comprising: 
 a freestanding stall module adapted to function as a horse stall, the stall module comprising: 
 a plurality of panels, 
 wherein each panel is composed of concrete,  
 wherein each panel is connected to at least one other panel adjacent thereto, and  
 wherein each connection between each pair of adjacent panels defines an internal corner; and  
 
 a plurality of corner support members, 
 wherein each corner support member is composed of concrete,  
 wherein each corner support member is associated with an internal corner defined by a corresponding pair of adjacent panels, and  
 wherein each corner support member comprises: 
 first and second channels therein,  
 wherein one panel in the corresponding pair of adjacent panels at least partially extends within the first channel and the other panel in the corresponding pair of adjacent panels at least partially extends within the second channel,  
 wherein at least one surface of each corner support member defined by the first channel is adapted to facilitate the ability of the one panel in the corresponding pair of adjacent panels to withstand a load, and  
 wherein at least one other surface of each corner support member defined by the second channel is adapted to facilitate the ability of the other panel in the corresponding pair of adjacent panels to withstand a load.