Combo Wood And Plastic Modular Storage Shed

Abstract

The present invention provides a system or kit which includes wood and plastic components or plastic components only. These components can be readily assembled to form a structure with the use of a minimal number of tools. The components are precut so that measurements and cutting of the component materials is eliminated. This leads to a savings in wasted materials. The components are readily assembled using conventional fasteners and simple hand tools. The components have preformed notches and tabs in order to facilitate assembly of the components without the requirement for measurements. This assures that the components will be assembled correctly and eliminates the opportunity for inaccurate measurements and incorrect assembly. The roof and floor structures are formed from plastic panels which interlock together.

1 . A modular utility shed construction system utilizing molded plastic structural panels comprising:
 a floor assembly for enclosing a bottom of said utility shed, said floor assembly including a plurality of like-configured floor panel members, one of said floor panel members including a groove extending along a longitudinal edge of said floor panel, another of said floor panel members including a lip extending along a longitudinal edge of said another floor panel member, said lip of said another floor panel member engaging said groove of said one floor panel member thereby securing said one floor panel member to said another floor panel member, a groove extending around a perimeter of said floor assembly, a plurality of apertures located within said groove extending around said perimeter of said floor assembly;   a pair of side wall assemblies for enclosing left and right side sides of said utility shed, said side wall assembly enclosing said left side of said utility shed including a front side panel and a back side panel, said wall assembly enclosing said right side of said utility shed including a front side panel and a back side panel;   at least two tabs along a lower edge of each of said front and back side wall panels, said tabs being constructed and arranged to fit into said plurality of apertures located on said floor assembly when said front and back side wall panels are tilted away from a vertical position, said tabs locking said front and back side wall panels to said floor assembly and preventing removal of said front and back side panels from said floor assembly when said front and back side panels are moved to a substantially vertical position;   a back wall assembly for enclosing a back portion of said utility shed, said back wall assembly including a left back wall panel and a right back wall panel secured together to form said back wall assembly, at least two tabs along a lower edge of each of said left and right back wall panels, said tabs being constructed and arranged to fit into said plurality of apertures located on said floor assembly when said left and right back wall panels are tilted away from a vertical position, said tabs locking said left and right back wall panels to said floor assembly and preventing removal of said left and right back wall panels from said floor assembly when said left and right side panels are moved to a substantially vertical position;   a roof assembly for enclosing an upper portion of said utility shed, said roof assembly including a plurality of roof panels secured together to form said roof assembly, a plurality of recesses located along a perimeter of each said roof panel;   a plurality of projections located along a top edge of each of said front and back side wall panels, said plurality of projections on said front and back side wall panels engaging said recesses on said roof panels thereby locking said roof assembly onto said front and back side wall panels; and   a door assembly enclosing a front of said utility shed and permitting access to said utility shed, said door assembly including at least two door panels.   
     
     
         2 . The modular utility shed construction system of  claim 1  wherein each said left and said right side wall assembly include an upper edge which is higher at its midpoint than at its ends. 
     
     
         3 . The modular utility shed construction system of  claim 2  wherein said roof assembly is curved along a traverse cross section, the midpoint of the traverse cross section is higher than the ends of the cross section. 
     
     
         4 . The modular utility shed construction system of  claim 3  wherein the upper edge of said left and said right wall assemblies are the same shape as the transverse cross section of the roof assembly, whereby said roof assembly completely engages said left and said right side wall assemblies. 
     
     
         5 . The modular utility shed construction system of  claim 1  wherein each of said roof panels includes a channel along a longitudinal edge, each of said channels being a complementary shape for the other said channel whereby, when said channels of said roof panels are placed together, they form a seal which prevents the intrusion of water and other elements through the roof assembly and into the utility shed. 
     
     
         6 . The modular utility shed construction system of  claim 1  wherein said door assembly includes a plurality of door panels, each said door panel is secured to a side wall assembly, one of said door panels includes a latching device, said latching device is operable from an interior of said door panel. 
     
     
         7 . The modular utility shed construction system of  claim 1  wherein said door assembly includes a plurality of door panels, each said door panel is secured to a side wall assembly, each of said door panels includes a handle for operatively opening and closing said door panels. 
     
     
         8 . The modular utility shed construction system of  claim 1  including a roof brace, said roof brace extending between said side wall assemblies and contacting an interior surface of said roof assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The modular utility shed construction system of  claim 1  wherein each said side wall back panel includes a flap which is hingedly secured to longitudinal edge of said side wall back panel, each of said left and said right back wall panels include a groove extending along a longitudinal edge which is adjacent to said side wall assemblies, said flap is constructed and arranged to fit into groove to provide a means to secure said side wall back panels to said back wall panels, said flap and said groove are constructed and arranged to not extend outwardly of a plane of the outer surfaces of said side wall back panels and said back wall panels. 
     
     
         10 . A utility shed construction kit comprising:
 a floor assembly for enclosing a bottom of said utility shed, a plurality of apertures located around a perimeter of said floor assembly;   a pair of side walls for enclosing left and right sides of said utility shed, said side walls formed of a plurality of vertical members secured together in a common plane;   a pair of corner panels secured to each said left and said right wall assembly, each said corner panel formed of a plurality of vertical members secured together;   a back wall assembly for enclosing a back portion of said utility shed, said back wall assembly including a left wall panel and a right wall panel, each said left and right back wall panel formed of a plurality of vertical members secured together in a common plane;   a filler member secured to and connecting said left and right back wall panels to each other, said filler member is similar to said vertical members in said back wall assembly; and a door assembly enclosing a front of said utility shed and permitting access to said utility shed, said door assembly including at least two door panels.   
     
     
         11 . The utility shed construction kit of  claim 10  wherein each said vertical member includes a groove extending along a longitudinal edge and a tongue extending along an opposite vertical edge, said tongue is constructed and arranged to fit into said groove to provide a structural and weather tight seal between adjacent vertical members. 
     
     
         12 . The utility shed construction kit of  claim 10  including a plurality of substantially horizontal support braces extending across each said side panel, each said back panel, and each said corner panel. 
     
     
         13 . The utility shed construction kit of  claim 10  including additional cross braces extending across both said back wall panels and joining said back wall panels together to form said back wall assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The utility shed construction kit of  claim 10  including a top connector extending along a top edge of each said side wall assemblies and said corner panels. 
     
     
         15 . The utility shed construction kit of  claim 14  including a top connector extending along a top edge of each said back wall panels. 
     
     
         16 . The utility shed construction kit of  claim 10  including a bottom connector extending along a bottom edge of each said side wall assemblies and said corner panels. 
     
     
         17 . The utility shed construction kit of  claim 17  including a bottom connector extending along a bottom edge of each said back wall panels. 
     
     
         18 . The utility shed construction kit of  claim 17  wherein each said bottom connector includes a plurality of tabs, said tabs being constructed and arranged to fit into said plurality of apertures in said floor assembly when said side wall assemblies and said back wall assembly are tilted away from a vertical position, said tabs locking said side wall assemblies and said back wall assembly to said floor assembly and preventing removal of said side wall assemblies and said back wall assembly when said side wall assemblies and said back wall assembly are moved to a substantially vertical position. 
     
     
         19 . The utility shed construction kit of  claim 15  wherein each said top connector includes a plurality of tabs, said tabs engaging a plurality of apertures in said roof assembly when said roof assembly is slid onto said utility shed whereby said roof assembly is securely held onto said utility shed.