Laminated lumber constructed volumetric modular unit for modular building construction

Abstract

A laminated lumber constructed volumetric modular unit constructed at a modular unit factory and shipped assembled to a modular building project site is disclosed. The laminated lumber constructed volumetric modular unit includes a floor structure and ceiling structure interconnected by opposing side wall structures and opposing end wall structures, a plurality of floor trusses disposed within the floor structure, a plurality of ceiling trusses disposed within the ceiling structure, a plurality of wall studs disposed within the opposing side wall structures and opposing end wall structures, one or more rim joists attached to the ceiling structure, and one or more multiple laminated lumbers attached to the floor structure and extending between the opposing end wall structures for carrying the load of the modular unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for constructing a volumetric modular unit, comprising:
 interconnecting a floor structure and a ceiling structure with opposing side wall structures and opposing end wall structures, wherein a plurality of floor trusses are disposed within the floor structure, a plurality of ceiling trusses are disposed within the ceiling structure, and a plurality of wall studs are disposed within the opposing side wall structures and the opposing end wall structures;   attaching one or more rim joists to the ceiling structure atop of the plurality of wall studs; and   attaching one or more multiple laminated lumbers to the floor structure between and extending to the opposing end wall structures, wherein the one or more laminated lumbers form a portion of the opposing side wall structures and a bottom of the opposing side wall structures abuts a top edge of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 attaching above the floor structure the top edge of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers to the bottom of the opposing side wall structures.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 forming a lower portion of the opposing side wall structures with an upper portion of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 attaching a lower portion of an interior wall to an upper portion of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 attaching the floor structure to middle and lower side portions of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wall studs disposed within the opposing side wall structures have a height less than the height between the floor and ceiling structure. 
     
     
         7 . A method for constructing a modular building from laminated lumber constructed volumetric modular units, comprising:
 assembling a plurality of volumetric modular units together on top of a foundation to provide the modular building having one or more floor levels with one or more rooms;   constructing at least one of the plurality of volumetric modular units by:   interconnecting a floor structure and a ceiling structure by opposing side wall structures and opposing end wall structures, wherein a plurality of floor trusses are disposed within the floor structure, a plurality of ceiling trusses disposed within the ceiling structure, a plurality of wall studs disposed within the opposing side wall structures and opposing end wall structures;   attaching the ceiling structure to one or more rim joists;   attaching the floor structure to one or more multiple laminated lumbers, wherein the one or more multiple laminated lumbers extend between the opposing end wall structures for carrying the load of the modular unit; and   attaching opposing ends of the plurality of floor trusses to opposing ones of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 supporting a first supported end of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers atop a first one of the opposing foundation walls and a second supported end of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers supported atop a second one of the opposing foundation walls, wherein an unsupported portion of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers extends between the first and second supported ends above an open space.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 attaching above the floor structure a top edge of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers to a bottom of the opposing side wall structures.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 forming a lower portion of the opposing side wall structures with an upper portion of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 attaching a lower portion of an interior wall to an upper portion of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 attaching the floor structure to middle and lower side portions of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 forming a portion of the opposing side wall structures extending above the floor structure with the one or more multiple laminated lumbers.   
     
     
         14 . A method for constructing a volumetric modular unit from laminated lumber, comprising:
 providing one or more multiple laminated lumbers having opposing top and bottom edges;   interconnecting a floor structure and ceiling structure with opposing side wall structures and opposing end wall structures, wherein a plurality of floor trusses are disposed within the floor structure, a plurality of ceiling trusses are disposed within the ceiling structure, and a plurality of wall studs are disposed within the opposing side wall structures and opposing end wall structures; and   attaching opposing ends of the plurality of ceiling trusses to opposing ones of the one or more rim joists and opposing ends of the plurality of floor trusses to opposing ones of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers, wherein a lower most portion of the opposing side wall structures are formed with an upper portion of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a portion of the opposing side wall structures and the lower most portion of the opposing side wall structures abuts the top edge of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers above the floor structure. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of opposing attaching opposing ends of the plurality of ceiling trusses to opposing ones of the one or more rim joists and opposing ends of the plurality of floor trusses to opposing ones of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers comprises:
 attaching first one of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers to a first end of the plurality of floor trusses; and   attaching a second one of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers to a second end of the plurality of floor trusses.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 attaching the floor structure to middle and lower side portions of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 attaching a lower portion of an interior wall to an upper portion of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 attaching above the floor structure a top edge of the one or more multiple laminated lumbers to the lower most portion of the opposing side wall.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of wall studs disposed within the opposing side wall structures have a height less than the height between the floor and ceiling structure.