Modular dwelling structure made from recycled tire materials, a kit for same and a method of assembling same

Abstract

A kit for a modular dwelling structure is provided, including a plurality of panels having predetermined dimensions. Each panel is made of a recycled tire material. A plurality of engagement members are also provided for maintaining the panels in a predetermined configuration to form the shape of the dwelling structure. A kit for providing the modular dwelling structure is also provided, as well as a method for assembling the modular dwelling structure.

1 . A kit for a modular dwelling structure comprising:
 a plurality of panel members having dimensions of at least 4′×8′×4″, said panels each comprising a recycled tire material, wherein said recycled tire material defines an entire outer surface of said panel members;   one or more reinforcement members embedded within said panel members, said reinforcement members each comprising a discrete elongate body embedded within said panel members and extending along a length direction of said panel members;   a plurality of engagement members for maintaining said panel members in a predetermined configuration to form a shape of said structure.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcement members comprise a material selected from the group consisting of plastic materials, fiberglass materials and metal-based materials. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said panels further comprise one or more mating surfaces designed to engage at least one of a corresponding mating surface of another of said panel members and an engagement surface of one or more of said engagement members. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 3 , wherein said panel members engage one another at least via said mating surfaces to form a junction. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 4 , further comprising a joining compound for adhering said panel members to one another at said junctions therebetween and for providing water-tight characteristics to said junctions. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fastener members. 
     
     
         7 . A modular dwelling structure comprising:
 a plurality of first panel members having dimensions of at least 4′×8′×4″ and configured to define a floor having a main plane;   a plurality of second panel members having dimensions of at least 4′×8′×4″ and configured to define an outer peripheral wall structure surrounding said floor and extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to said main plane of said floor; and   a plurality of third panel members having dimensions of at least 4′×8′×4″ and configured to define a roof structure substantially enclosing an interior space defined by said main plane of said floor, an interior planar surface of said outer peripheral wall structure and an interior surface of said roof;   wherein each of said first, second and third panel member comprises a recycled rubber tire material, wherein said recycled rubber tire material defines an entire outer surface of each said panel member; and   wherein each of said first, second and third panel members includes one or more reinforcement members embedded within said panel members, said reinforcement members each comprising a discrete elongate body embedded within said panel members and extending along a length direction of said panel members.   
     
     
         8 . The dwelling structure of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of engagement means for securing said first, said second and said third panel members to one another to define said dwelling structure. 
     
     
         9 . The dwelling structure of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of fourth panel members having dimensions of at least 4′×8′×4″ and configured to define one or more interior wall structures within said interior space. 
     
     
         10 . The dwelling structure of  claim 7 , further comprising another plurality of panel members arranged to define at least one of a substantially subterranean peripheral wall structure and a substantially subterranean foundation floor structure. 
     
     
         11 . The dwelling structure of  claim 7 , wherein at least some of said first and second plurality of panel members include a chase structure to accommodate the installation of housing utility components. 
     
     
         12 . A method of assembling a dwelling structure made from recycled tire materials, said method comprising the steps of
 providing a plurality of panel members made from recycled tire materials and having dimensions of at least 4′×8′×4″, wherein said recycled tire materials define an entire outer surface of each said panel member, and wherein said panel members include one or more reinforcement members embedded within said panel members, said reinforcement members each comprising a discrete elongate body embedded within said panel members and extending along a length direction of said panel members;   arranging a first plurality of said panel members into a substantially planar floor configuration in secured relation to one another;   arranging a second plurality of said panel members into an outer peripheral wall configuration in a secured relation to one another and to said panel members of said floor configuration such that a main plane of said panel members of said wall configuration extends in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to a main plane of said planar floor configuration; and   arranging a third plurality of said panel members to define a roof structure in a secured relation to one another and to said panel members of said wall configuration to define a substantially enclosed interior space.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of
 arranging a fourth plurality of said panel members to define one or more interior wall structures having a main plane that extends in a direction that is substantially parallel to said main plane of said outer peripheral wall structure.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of
 arranging another plurality of said panel members to define at least one of a plurality of substantially subterranean peripheral wall structures and a plurality of substantially subterranean base structures to define at least one of a dwelling foundation and a dwelling basement.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of: forming one or more openings in said panel members of said outer peripheral wall configuration to define at least one of an entry way opening and a window opening. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one of sheet rock and plaster on an internal planar surface of said main plane of said panel members defining said outer peripheral wall configuration and to surfaces of panel members defining said main plane of said interior wall configuration;   providing a floor covering material on said planar surface of said panel members defining said floor configuration;   providing an exterior siding material on external planar surfaces of said main plane of said panel members defining said outer peripheral wall configuration; and   providing a roofing material on external planar surfaces of said panel members defining said roof configuration.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of supplying a transparent, insulative material to said window openings. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of supplying an entry way enclosing structure to said entryway openings that permits or prevents passage of objects into said interior portion of said dwelling structure from an exterior environment via said entry way opening. 
     
     
         19 . The modular dwelling structure according to  claim 7 , further comprising one or more corner units, each said corner unit including one or more said panel members configured to define an angle and comprising at least a recycled rubber tire material. 
     
     
         20 . A method of assembling a dwelling structure made from recycled tire materials, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of panel members made from compressed crumb rubber recycled tire materials and having dimensions of at least 4′×8′×4″, wherein said compressed crumb rubber recycled tire materials define an entire outer surface of each said panel member, and wherein one or more reinforcement members are embedded within said panel members, said reinforcement members each comprising a discrete elongate body embedded within said panel members and extending along a length direction of said panel members;   arranging a first plurality of said panel members into a substantially planar floor configuration in secured relation to one another;   arranging a second plurality of said panel members into an outer peripheral wall configuration in a secured relation to one another and to said panel members of said floor configuration such that a main plane of said panel members of said wall configuration extends in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to a main plane of said planar floor configuration; and   arranging a third plurality of said panel members to define a roof structure in a secured relation to one another and to said panel members of said wall configuration to define a substantially enclosed interior space.   
     
     
         21 . The modular dwelling structure according to  claim 9 , wherein each of said fourth panel members includes one or more reinforcement members embedded within said panel members, said reinforcement members each comprising a discrete elongate body embedded within said panel members and extending along a length direction of said panel members. 
     
     
         22 . The modular dwelling structure according to  claim 10 , wherein each of said another plurality of panel members includes one or more reinforcement members embedded within said panel members, said reinforcement members each comprising a discrete elongate body embedded within said panel members and extending along a length direction of said panel members. 
     
     
         23 . A kit for a modular dwelling structure comprising:
 a plurality of panel members having dimensions of at least 4′×8′×4″, said panels each comprising a recycled tire material, wherein said recycled tire material defines an entire outer surface of said panel members;   one or more reinforcement members embedded within said panel members, said reinforcement members each comprising a discrete elongate body embedded within said panel members and extending along a length direction of said panel members, said reinforcement members comprising a material selected from the group consisting of plastic materials, fiberglass materials and metal-based materials;   a plurality of engagement members for maintaining said panel members in a predetermined configuration with respect to one another to form a shape of said structure;   a plurality of fastener members fixing said panel members to one another and to said engagement members; and   a water-tight sealing compound adhering said panel members to one another at respective mating junctions therebetween and adhering said panel members to said fasteners at respective mating junctions therebetween.