Building construction

Abstract

As per FIG. 4, a building construction having a main portion 1 , a roof portion 2 , and a floor portion 3 . The construction may be formed in the shape of a box-like freight container in which the roof portion 2 and/or the floor portion 3 provide(s) structural integrity. The structural integrity is such that the construction can be picked up by a crane, and/or arranged in a freight vehicle with a normally loaded freight container on top of it, either case without causing structural damage. The building construction can be assembled by swinging the roof portion 2 out from the main portion, and by swinging the floor portion 3 out from the main portion, not necessarily in that order, but in each case by way of pivot connections 4 , such that the roof and floor portions become at least part of the roof and floor of the building construction respectively when the building construction is installed on site.

1 . A building construction having a main portion, a roof portion, and a floor portion, the roof portion and the floor portion each being attached to the main portion by way of a respective pivot connection or connections, the building construction being formed such that the main portion, the roof portion and the floor portion can be arranged with respect to one another such that the building construction is substantially in the shape of a box-like freight container in which the roof portion and/or the floor portion provide(s) structural integrity, the structural integrity being such that the building construction can be picked up by a crane, and/or arranged in a freight vehicle with a normally loaded freight container on top of it, in either case without causing structural damage to the building construction, and wherein the building construction can be, after being freighted to a desired site, assembled by swinging the roof portion out from the main portion, and by swinging the floor portion out from the main portion, not necessarily in that order, but in each case by way of the pivot connections, such that the roof and floor portions become at least part of the roof and floor of the building construction respectively when the building construction is installed on site.  
   
   
       2 . A building construction according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a second roof portion and a second floor portion arranged and able to function in similar fashion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions but at an opposite side of the main portion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions.  
   
   
       3 . A building construction according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a second roof portion and a second floor portion arranged and able to function in similar fashion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions but at an opposite side of the main portion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions, and wherein the building construction has locking means for the floor and wall portions such that they can each be locked in a substantially vertical orientation when the building construction is in a disassembled state for freighting.  
   
   
       4 . A building construction according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a second roof portion and a second floor portion arranged and able to function in similar fashion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions but at an opposite side of the main portion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions, and wherein the roof portions can be outside of the respective floor portions when the building construction is in a disassembled state.  
   
   
       5 . A building construction according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a second roof portion and a second floor portion arranged and able to function in similar fashion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions but at an opposite side of the main portion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions, and wherein the floor portions can be outside of the respective roof portions when the building construction is in a disassembled state.  
   
   
       6 . A building construction according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a second roof portion and a second floor portion arranged and able to function in similar fashion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions but at an opposite side of the main portion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions, and wherein the building construction is, when in a disassembled state, substantially in the shape of a standard freight container.  
   
   
       7 . A building construction according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a second roof portion and a second floor portion arranged and able to function in similar fashion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions but at an opposite side of the main portion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions, and wherein the building construction is, when in a disassembled state, substantially in the shape of a standard ISO freight container.  
   
   
       8 . A building construction according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a second roof portion and a second floor portion arranged and able to function in similar fashion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions but at an opposite side of the main portion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions, and wherein the building construction is, when in a disassembled state, substantially in the shape of a standard ISO 40 foot freight container.  
   
   
       9 . A building construction according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a second roof portion and a second floor portion arranged and able to function in similar fashion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions but at an opposite side of the main portion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions, and wherein the building construction has, when in a disassembled state, a removable corner protector arranged over at least part of an external edge of the disassembled construction to provide a measure of protection and/or strength to the construction when it is being transported.  
   
   
       10 . A building construction according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a second roof portion and a second floor portion arranged and able to function in similar fashion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions but at an opposite side of the main portion to the first mentioned roof and floor portions, and wherein the building construction has a plurality of removable corner protectors each arranged along a different external edge of the building construction to provide a measure of protection and/or strength to the building construction when it is being transported.  
   
   
       11 . A building construction according to  claim 1 , including framing and panels wherein the panels can be fitted between parts of the framing to create internal and/or external walls.  
   
   
       12 . A building construction according to  claim 1 , wherein the structural integrity is such that the building construction can, when in a disassembled state, be picked up by the crane at or adjacent four corners of the building construction without causing structural damage to the building construction.  
   
   
       13 . A building construction according to  claim 1 , wherein the building construction is at least partially clad when in a disassembled state.  
   
   
       14 . A building construction having a main portion, a roof portion, and a floor portion, the roof portion and the floor portion each being attached to the main portion by way of a respective pivot connection or connections, the building construction being formed such that the main portion, the roof portion, and the floor portion can be arranged with respect to one another such that the building construction is substantially in a disassembled box-like shape which can be freighted to a desired site, the building construction being formed such that when it is on site it can be assembled by swinging the roof portion out from the main portion, and by swinging the floor portion out from the main portion, not necessarily in that order, but in each case by way of the respective pivot connections, such that the roof and floor portions become at least part of the roof and floor of the building construction respectively when the building construction is installed on site, the building construction being formed such that when the roof portion is swung out to an installed position by way of its pivot connection or connections the roof portion is angled upwards away from the main portion so that parts of the roof portion most remote from the main portion are substantially higher than parts of the roof portion immediately adjacent the main portion, and wherein the position of contact between the roof portion and the main portion is inherently covered by the roof portion to substantially assist in resisting rain water entering the building construction when the building construction is completely installed.  
   
   
       15 . A building construction according to  claim 1 , substantially as herein described with reference to  FIGS. 1-10 .  
   
   
       16 . A building construction according to  claim 1 , wherein the building construction is certified as a shipping container for use on container ships.  
   
   
       17 . A building construction according to  claim 14 , formed sufficient for ISO certification as a shipping container for use on container ships when in the disassembled box-like shape, and wherein the roof portion provides an outside wall of the box-like shape, the construction being such that in order for assembly to occur the roof portion must be swung out from the main portion before floor portion.  
   
   
       18 . A building construction having a main portion, two roof portions, two floor portions, beams, wall panels, and windows; 
 the roof portions and the floor portions each being attached to the main portion by way of respective pivot connections;    the building construction being formed such that the main portion, the roof portions and the floor portions can be arranged with respect to one another such that the building construction is substantially in the shape of a box-like freight container in which the roof portions and the floor portions provide structural integrity, the structural integrity being such that the building construction can be picked up by a crane, and/or arranged in a freight vehicle with a normally loaded freight container on top of it, in either case without causing structural damage to the building construction;    and wherein the building construction can be, after being freighted to a desired site, assembled by swinging the roof portions out from the main portion, and by swinging the floor portions out from the main portion, not necessarily in that order, but in each case by way of the pivot connections, such that the roof and floor portions are supported by the beams and become at least part of the roof and floor of the building construction respectively when the building construction is installed on site;    the assembled disposition being such that for each roof portion parts of the roof portion most remote from the main portion are substantially higher than parts of the roof portion immediately adjacent the main portion,    the building construction also being such that the wall panels and windows are adapted for fitting between the beams and the roof and floor portions to provide weather proofing for the assembled building construction after the floor and roof portions have been swung out and after the beams have been secured at extremities of the roof and floor sections.