Self-registering, modular outbuilding apparatus and method

Abstract

A modular shed that is comprised of a floor frame, side frames, a back frame, a front frame, and a roof frame. The connections between the individual component frames is designed to self-registering, or substantially orthogonal upon connection. The roof frame may be configured to provide the shed structure a slanted roof or a gabled roof. The modular shed provides a strong, durable structure that is also easy to assemble, dis-assemble, transport, and store.

1 . A method of using a knock-down, re-usable, modular outbuilding having frames, each formed to be substantially monolithic, the method comprising:
 providing a floor frame, monolithically formed as a substantially indivisible unit having a length, width orthogonal thereto, inner surface, and outer surface opposite thereto;   providing side frames, monolithically formed as substantially indivisible units, each having a length, height, inner surface, and outer surface;   providing fasteners;   providing a back frame, monolithically formed as a substantially indivisible unit;   providing a front frame, having an outer portion formed as a substantially indivisible unit;   providing a roof frame, monolithically formed as a substantially indivisible unit comprising a registration rail extending along a periphery of the roof frame and having a portion thereof extending downward to engage at least one of the front, back, and side frames;   selecting a first set, second set, third set, fourth set, fifth set, sixth set, seventh set, eighth set, ninth set, tenth set, eleventh set, and twelfth set of fasteners;   registering the floor frame with respect to the back frame by the first set of the fasteners extending into both the floor frame and the back frame;   securing the floor frame and front frame together in fixed, orthogonal relation by the first set of fasteners;   registering the floor frame with respect to the front frame by the second set of the fasteners extending into both the floor frame and the back frame;   securing the floor frame and front frame together in fixed, orthogonal relation by the second set of fasteners;   registering the registration rail on and with respect to at least two of the front, back, and side frames.   securing the roof frame to the front and back frames by operation of the third and fourth sets;   dismantling, non-destructively, the floor frame, roof frame, front frame, and back frame from one another by operation of the first, second, third, and fourth sets; and   reconstructing the outbuilding by registering and securing again the floor frame to the front and back frame and the roof frame to the front and back frames.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 registering the side frames, opposite one another, with respect to the floor frame, the back frame, and the front frame by operation, respectively, of the fifth and sixth, the seventh and eighth, and the ninth and tenth sets.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising securing the side frames to the roof frame by operation of the eleventh and twelfth sets. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining a skin material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising obtaining a first panel, formed of the skin material and sized to correspond to at least one of the back frame, the front frame, the roof frame, and the side frames. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 aligning the first panel with the frame corresponding thereto; and   securing the first panel to the corresponding frame.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 the dismantling, excluding removing the first panel from the corresponding frame.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising transporting the frames in their dismantled condition without removal of the first panel. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining a skin material;   obtaining at least one panel, formed of the skin material and sized to correspond to a corresponding at least one of the frames;   aligning the at least one panel with the at least one frame corresponding thereto;   securing the first panel to the corresponding frame;   completing the dismantling without removing the at least one panel from the corresponding at least one frame;   transporting the frames;   reassembling the outbuilding by re-registering the frames and securing the frames to one another without removal of the at least one panel.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing inserts permanently secured to at least some of the frames;   providing apertures through each of the frames;   passing at least some of the fasteners through the apertures;   threading the at least some of the fasteners into the at least some of the frames; and   securing alignments of the frames with respect to one another by tightening the at least some of the fasteners with respect to the inserts.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 registering the side frames with respect to the floor frame, back frame, front frame, and roof frame;   securing, in alignment therewith, the side frames with respect to the floor frame, back frame, front frame, and roof frame;   removing at least one of the side frames from the outbuilding;   operating the outbuilding absent the at least one of the side frames.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus, forming an outbuilding, the apparatus comprising:
 a floor frame, monolithically formed as a substantially indivisible unit having a length, width orthogonal thereto, inner surface, and outer surface opposite thereto;   side frames, monolithically formed as substantially indivisible units, each having a length, height, inner surface, and outer surface;   fasteners, comprising a first set, second set, third set, fourth set, fifth set, sixth set, seventh set, eighth set, ninth set, tenth set, eleventh set, and twelfth set thereof;   a back frame, monolithically formed as a substantially indivisible unit;   a front frame, having an outer portion formed as a substantially indivisible unit;   a roof frame, monolithically formed as a substantially indivisible unit comprising a registration rail extending along a periphery thereof and having a portion extending downward to engage at least one of the front, back, and side frames;   the floor frame registered with respect to the back frame by the first set of the fasteners extending into both the floor frame and the back frame;   the floor frame and back frame fixed together in orthogonal relation by the first set of fasteners;   the floor frame, further registered with respect to the front frame by the second set of the fasteners extending into both the floor frame and the back frame;   the floor frame and front frame secured together in fixed, orthogonal relation by the second set of fasteners; and   the registration rail, positioned on and registering in a horizontal direction the front and back frames by overhanging the front and back frames.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 the side frames, opposite one another, and registered with respect to the floor frame, the back frame, and the front frame by operation, respectively, of the fifth and sixth, the seventh and eighth, and the ninth and tenth sets.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 first panel, formed of the skin material and sized to correspond to at least one of the back frame, the front frame, the roof frame, and the side frames; and   the first panel, aligned with the frame corresponding thereto and secured thereto.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 the frames, formed to stack stably by having a substantially constant, common thickness shared by the floor frame, back frame, front frame, and side frames.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 inserts, comprising threads and permanently secured to at least some of the frames;   the frames, each provided with apertures sized to receive the fasteners and oriented to provide access to the inserts by the fasteners;   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the frames are fixed to one another in rigid and registered orthogonal relation by the fasteners, passing through at least some of the apertures and threaded into the inserts. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the roof frame is selectable between a flat, slanted roof and a gabled roof. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a skin, formed as panels modularly fitted, respectively, to each of back, front, and roof frames. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising trim covering seams between the panels of skin on adjacent frames.