Intermodal Container Building

Abstract

A kit for constructing a building may include an intermodal container. The intermodal container may include four exterior walls forming a perimeter of the intermodal container, a floor connected to each of the four exterior walls, and a roof connected to each of the four exterior walls. The four exterior walls, the floor, and the roof collectively define an interior volume of the intermodal container. The kit may also include a plurality of structural building components disposed within the interior volume. When the building is constructed with the structural building components, at least one of the four exterior walls of the intermodal container is repurposed as an interior wall of the building.

1 . An intermodal container comprising:
 exterior walls;   a floor coupled to the exterior walls;   a roof coupled to the exterior walls, wherein the exterior walls, the floor, and the roof defining an interior volume of the intermodal container;   a pre-installed component positioned in the interior volume of the intermodal container, the pre-installed component including at least one of a sink, a toilet, a bathtub, or an appliance; and   structural building components positioned in the interior volume of the intermodal container; wherein the structural building components are configured to be used to construct a building;   and   wherein the intermodal container is configured to form a room in the building constructed with the structural building components, wherein the intermodal container forms a safety pod within the building when the building is constructed, the safety pod having the characteristic of greater stability to withstand a force of nature greater than other rooms in the building.   
     
     
         2 . The intermodal container of  claim 1  wherein the intermodal container is configured so that at least one of the exterior walls forms an interior wall of the building. 
     
     
         3 . The intermodal container of  claim 1  wherein the pre-installed component includes a sink. 
     
     
         4 . The intermodal container of  claim 1  comprising at least one of a finished bathroom area or a finished kitchen area in the interior volume. 
     
     
         5 . The intermodal container of  claim 1  comprising a finished bathroom area in one portion of the interior volume, wherein the finished bathroom area is separated from another portion of the interior volume by an interior wall. 
     
     
         6 . The intermodal container of  claim 1  wherein the interior volume of the intermodal container is a finished room. 
     
     
         7 . The intermodal container of  claim 1  wherein the exterior walls include a longitudinal wall, the intermodal container comprising a door in the longitudinal wall. 
     
     
         8 . The intermodal container of  claim 1  comprising at least one exterior opening cut out of at least one of the exterior walls, wherein the at least one exterior opening is configured to form an internal doorway between rooms in the building. 
     
     
         9 . The intermodal container of  claim 1  wherein the building constructed with the structural building components includes one room on one longitudinal side of the intermodal container and another room on another longitudinal side of the intermodal container. 
     
     
         10 . The intermodal container of  claim 1  wherein the structural building components include all the structural elements necessary to construct the building. 
     
     
         11 . The intermodal container of  claim 1  wherein the structural building components include walls panels that are configured to form exterior walls of the building. 
     
     
         12 . The intermodal container of  claim 1  comprising a pre-wired baseboard. 
     
     
         13 . An intermodal container comprising:
 exterior walls;   a floor coupled to the exterior walls;   a roof coupled to the exterior walls, and wherein the exterior walls, the floor, and the roof define an interior volume of the intermodal container;   at least one exterior opening cut out of at least one of the exterior walls; and   structural building components positioned in the interior volume of the intermodal container; wherein the structural building components are configured to be used to construct a building; wherein the intermodal container is configured to form a room in the building constructed with the structural building components; and   wherein the at least one exterior opening is configured to form an internal doorway between rooms in the building, wherein the intermodal container forms a safety pod within the building when the building is constructed, the safety pod having the characteristic of greater stability to withstand a force of nature greater than other rooms in the building, wherein the internal doorway comprises a storm door.   
     
     
         14 . The intermodal container of  claim 13  wherein the exterior walls include a longitudinal wall, the at least one exterior opening is positioned in the longitudinal wall. 
     
     
         15 . The intermodal container of  claim 13  wherein the at least one exterior opening includes a door movable between an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
         16 . The intermodal container of  claim 15  wherein the door is a roll-up door. 
     
     
         17 . A method for constructing a building comprising:
 shipping an intermodal container to a construction site, the intermodal container including:
 exterior walls; 
 a floor coupled to the exterior walls; 
 a roof coupled to the exterior walls, wherein the exterior walls, the floor, and the roof define an interior volume of the intermodal container; 
 at least one exterior opening cut out of at least one of the exterior walls; and structural building components positioned in the interior volume of the intermodal container; and 
 at least one foundation pile; 
   constructing the building with the intermodal container and the structural building components;   wherein the intermodal container forms a room in the building; and   wherein the at least one exterior opening forms an internal doorway between rooms in the building, wherein the internal doorway comprises a storm door; and   screwing the at least one foundation pile into a surface and connecting the at least one foundation pile to a corner fitting on the intermodal container, wherein the intermodal container forms a safety pod within the building when the building is constructed, the safety pod having the characteristic of greater stability to withstand a force of nature greater than other rooms in the building.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the interior volume of the intermodal container is finished before the intermodal container is shipped. 
     
     
         19 . The intermodal container of  claim 8 , wherein the internal doorway comprises a storm door. 
     
     
         20 . The intermodal container of  claim 8 , wherein the internal doorway comprises a roll-up door.