Systems and methods for manufactured modular construction

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments may enable manufactured modular construction. The various embodiment manufactured modular construction systems, methods, and devices may offer a solution to the housing shortage worldwide that is less than half the cost of the cost of current modular buildings. Various embodiments may include interlocking vertical and horizontal elements. Various embodiments may include a locking system pulling upper horizontal elements of an embodiment modular building toward lower horizontal elements and/or a foundation or a lower floor of the embodiment modular building to thereby lock vertical elements and vertical panels in place between the upper horizontal elements and the lower horizontal elements, foundation, and/or lower floor. In various embodiments, the locking system may include a shock absorber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular building, comprising:
 at least one lower horizontal element;   at least one vertical element configured to form a hollow central portion;   at least one upper horizontal element; and   at least one locking system connecting the lower horizontal element, the vertical element, and the upper horizontal element together,   wherein the locking system at least partially passes through the vertical element and is under tension to thereby pull the lower horizontal element, the vertical element, and the upper horizontal element together.   
     
     
         2 . The modular building of  claim 1 , further comprising a vertical panel joined between the lower horizontal element and the upper horizontal element and joined to the vertical element. 
     
     
         3 . The modular building of  claim 2 , wherein channels are formed between the vertical panel, the lower horizontal element, the upper horizontal element, and the vertical element when the vertical panel, lower horizontal element, upper horizontal element, and vertical element are joined together. 
     
     
         4 . The modular building of  claim 3 , further comprising a utility or data connection formed in at least one of the channels. 
     
     
         5 . The modular building of  claim 4 , wherein the vertical element, the upper horizontal element, or the lower horizontal element are comprised of fiber reinforced plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The modular building of  claim 5 , wherein the vertical panel comprises aluminum composite panels with foam sandwiched therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The modular building of  claim 2 , wherein the vertical panel comprises a structural insulated panel. 
     
     
         8 . The modular building of  claim 2 , wherein the locking system includes a shock absorber. 
     
     
         9 . The modular building of  claim 8 , wherein the shock absorber comprises a rubber block, spring, or hydraulic system connected to a lock rod, bar, or cable of the locking system. 
     
     
         10 . The modular building of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a roof support affixed to the upper horizontal element; and   at least one roof panel affixed to the roof support.   
     
     
         11 . A method of installing a modular building, comprising:
 affixing at least one lower horizontal element to a foundation;   sliding a vertical element configured to form a hollow central portion over a first raised portion of the lower horizontal element;   sliding a vertical panel over a second raised portion of the lower horizontal element and over a raised surface element of the vertical element;   sliding an upper horizontal element into the vertical element and the vertical panel;   affixing a locking system between the lower horizontal element and the upper horizontal element; and   tensioning the locking system to pull the lower horizontal element, the vertical element, and the upper horizontal element together.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the vertical panel is a wall panel, a window panel, or a door panel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 affixing a roof support to the upper horizontal element; and   affixing a roof panel to the roof support.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 affixing a floor support to the upper horizontal element;   affixing a floor portion to the floor support; and   affixing at least one additional lower horizontal element to the floor support to support a second level for the modular building.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein affixing the locking system between the lower horizontal element and the upper horizontal element comprises affixing the locking system between the lower horizontal element and the upper horizontal element through the hollow central portion of the vertical element. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising affixing an inner wall to the lower horizontal element such that the locking system is disposed between the vertical panel and the inner wall. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the vertical element, the upper element, or the lower horizontal element are comprised of fiber reinforced plastic. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the vertical panel comprises aluminum composite panels with foam sandwiched therebetween. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the vertical panel comprises a structural insulated panel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising joining the vertical element, the upper element, or the lower horizontal element to the vertical panel without using fasteners. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein tensioning the locking system to pull the lower horizontal element, the vertical element, and the upper horizontal element together thereby holds structural elements of the modular building together without glue or caulk. 
     
     
         22 . A modular building, comprising:
 means for affixing at least one lower horizontal element to a foundation;   means for sliding a vertical element configured to form a hollow central portion over a first raised portion of the lower horizontal element;   means for sliding a vertical panel over a second raised portion of the lower horizontal element and over a raised surface element of the vertical element;   means for sliding an upper horizontal element into the vertical element and the vertical panel;   means for affixing a locking system between the lower horizontal element and the upper horizontal element; and   means for tensioning the locking system to pull the lower horizontal element, the vertical element, and the upper horizontal element together.   
     
     
         23 . The modular building of  claim 22 , further comprising means for forming channels between the vertical panel, the lower horizontal element, the upper horizontal element, and the vertical element when the vertical panel, lower horizontal element, upper horizontal element, and vertical element are joined together. 
     
     
         24 . The modular building of  claim 23 , further comprising means for forming a utility or data connection in at least one of the channels. 
     
     
         25 . The modular building of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 means for affixing a roof support to the upper horizontal element; and   means for affixing a roof panel to the roof support.   
     
     
         26 . The modular building of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 means for affixing a floor support to the upper horizontal element;   means for affixing a floor portion to the floor support; and   means for affixing at least one additional lower horizontal element to the floor support to support a second level for the modular building.   
     
     
         27 . The modular building of  claim 22 , further comprising means for affixing an inner wall to the lower horizontal element such that the locking system is disposed between the vertical panel and the inner wall. 
     
     
         28 . The modular building of  claim 22 , further comprising means for joining the vertical element, the upper element, or the lower horizontal element to the vertical panel without using fasteners. 
     
     
         29 . The modular building of  claim 22 , wherein means for tensioning the locking system to pull the lower horizontal element, the vertical element, and the upper horizontal element together hold structural elements of the modular building together without glue or caulk. 
     
     
         30 . The modular building of  claim 22 , further comprising means for shock absorbing connected to the locking system.