[0001] This invention relates to a portable building unit, hereinafter referred to as being
of the kind specified, comprising an upright disposed externally of a wall structure.
[0002] When such a building unit is assembled in side-by-side relationship with a similar
building unit two uprights of the adjacent units may be disposed side-by-side.
[0003] Hitherto such uprights have been of square or rectangular cross-sectional shape.
[0004] An object of the invention is to provide a building unit having an upright column
which may provide an improved aesthetic appearance whilst retaining the structural
strength required thereof.
[0005] According to one aspect of the invention we provide a portable building unit of the
type described wherein the upright has, in cross-section, a first side defining one
side of a rectangle having a length L and a second side defining an adjacent second
side of a rectangle having a breadth B, the first and second sides being connected
together, at one end, at right angles and there being at least one further side, as
herein defined, which extends between the opposite ends of the first and second sides.
[0006] Said "at least one further side, as herein defined," means any number or shape of
further sides but which excludes a further pair of sides of length L and B connected
together, at one end, at right angles and connected to the first and second sides
at right angles to define said rectangle.
[0007] Said at least one further side may at least partly lie within said rectangle.
[0008] Said further side may, in cross-section, be of generally curvilinear configuration
over at least a portion of its extent. The curvilinear configuration may be a sector
of a circle.
[0009] The further side may be substantially wholly of said curvilinear configuration except
for curved end portions whereby it is connected to the first and second sides.
[0010] The length and breadth of the rectangle may be equal.
[0011] Alternatively, the further side may comprise a curvilinear portion having, at each
end, rectilinear portions.
[0012] The rectilinear portions may be connected to the first and second sides respectively
by curved end portions.
[0013] If desired the length and the breadth of the rectangle may be equal and the rectilinear
portions may have a length equal to half the length/breadth of the rectangle.
[0014] Further alternatively, the further side may comprise end rectangular portions which
extend at right angles to the first and second sides and an intermediate rectilinear
portion which is inclined to said end portions.
[0015] The length and the breadth of the rectangle may be equal. The end portions may be
approximately one third of the length/breadth of the rectangle and the intermediate
portion may extend at approximately 135° relative to the adjacent end portion.
[0016] The end rectilinear portions may be connected to the first and second sides represented
by curved end portions.
[0017] The section may have similar structural properties to that of a rectangular section
of length L and breadth B and made of similar material i.e. of the same or substantially
the same material or material of the same or similar relevant physical properties.
[0018] The portable building unit may be rectangular in plan view comprising a wall structure
having a shorter side wall and a longer side wall and a roof structure.
[0019] The wall structure may comprise a composite wall panel structure having an inner
skin, an outer skin and an infilling therebetween, the outer skin comprising at least
one sheet which provides an external surface of the wall structure.
[0020] Said longer side wall may comprise a plurality of discrete rectangular wall panel
structures disposed with vertical sides thereof in side-by-side relationship and wherein
each discrete wall panel structure comprises an outer skin which comprises a plurality
of rectangular sheets each rectangular sheet having two longer opposed edges and two
shorter opposed edges.
[0021] The sheets may be juxtaposed in edge-to-edge relationship with longer opposed sides
disposed horizontally and shorter opposed sides disposed vertically and the horizontally
disposed edges of adjacent sheets being joined together to provide joints between
said sheets.
[0022] Alternatively the sheets may be juxtaposed in edge-to-edge relationship with shorter
opposed sides disposed horizontally and longer opposed sides disposed vertically and
the vertically disposed edges of adjacent sheets being joined together to provide
joints between said sheets.
[0023] Said infilling may comprise insulating infilling to which the inner skin and the
sheets of the outer skin are bonded.
[0024] The outer skin may be made of metal.
[0025] The inner skin may be made of plasterboard, or metal, or plastic coated metal or
gypsum based fibre filled board such as (Firmacel Ply).
[0026] The insulating infilling may comprise a foam plastics material or a mineral fibre
such as rock wool.
[0027] Each panel structure may comprise an internal framework having an upright edge member
extending along each vertical side of the panel structure and adjacent upright edge
members of adjacent wall panel structures being disposed side-by-side.
[0028] The panel structure may include an internal framework comprising a plurality of lateral
members extending between the inner and outer skins and positioned at or adjacent
the joints between the sheets of the outer skin when said joints are horizontal.
[0029] Alternatively the panel structure may include an internal framework comprising a
plurality of vertical members extending between the inner and outer skins and positioned
at or adjacent the joints between the sheets of the outer skin when said joints are
vertical.
[0030] The building unit may comprise a structural metal frame, comprising said uprights,
to which are secured the roof structure and said at least one wall panel structure.
[0031] The building unit may be provided with a floor structure which is secured to the
metal frame.
[0032] The structural metal frame may comprise a pair of lateral upstanding sub-frames,
each of said sub-frames including an upper member and a lower member, the upper and
lower members of each sub-frame being interconnected by said uprights.
[0033] The lower members of the sub-frames may be rigidly interconnected in spaced apart
parallel relationship by frame cross-members which extend between the lower members.
[0034] A floor panel may extend between and be supported by the lower members of the sub-frames.
[0035] The upper members of the sub-frames may be interconnected solely by one or more roof
panels.
[0036] Each of said roof panels may extend between and be secured below the upper members
of such sub-frames so that the upper members are wholly external of the habitable
volume of the unit.
[0037] Said upright frame members of the panel structure may be fastened to said uprights.
[0038] The uprights adjacent which the upstanding edges of the panel structures at the ends
of the side wall are disposed may comprise a further upright disposed adjacent uprights
of the structural frame at the ends of the end wall.
[0039] The uprights may comprise an upright of said structural frame and said structural
frame may be disposed external to the habitable volume of the unit.
[0040] According to a second aspect of the invention we provide an assembly of building
units according to the first aspect of the invention wherein the units are connected
together in side-by-side or end-to-end or side-to-end relationship.
[0041] A building unit may be stacked on top of another building unit.
[0042] The upper unit of said assembly may be provided with a roof panel.
[0043] The roof panel may comprise an external skin of sheet metal, an internal skin and
an infilling therebetween, the external skin comprising a plurality of profiled metal
sheets, the sheets being disposed in side-by-side relationship with edge corrugations
of the profile in overlapping and sealing relationship and preferably each sheet extends
as a one-piece sheet over the full length of the roof structure from one end of the
roof beam to the opposite end thereof.
[0044] If desired, the roof panels may be made of other material to that described hereinbefore
for example the external sheet and/or the internal sheet may be made of plastics,
cloth or other material or pitched tiled roof may be provided.
[0045] The lower, and an intermediate unit where provided, of said assembly may be provided
with a ceiling panel.
[0046] The or each ceiling panel may comprise a sandwich construction having an upper skin
of plywood and a lower skin of steel with an insulating material therebetween and
with a peripheral timber or metal frame disposed between the inner and outer skins.
[0047] The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is an end elevation of a building assembly embodying the invention,
FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the building assembly of Figure 1,
FIGURE 3 is a section, to an enlarged scale, on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,
FIGURE 4 is a section, to an enlarged scale, on the line 4-4 of Figure 1
FIGURE 5 is a section, to an enlarged scale, on the line 5-5 of Figure 14,
FIGURE 6 is a section, to an enlarged scale, on the line 6-6 of Figure 14,
FIGURE 7 is a section, to an enlarged scale, on the line 7-7 of Figure 14,
FIGURE 8 is a section, to an enlarged scale, on the line 8-8 of Figure 14,
FIGURE 9 is a section, to an enlarged scale, on the line 9-9 of Figure 14,
FIGURE 10 is a cross-section, to an enlarged scale, through an upright 24a, 24b,
FIGURE 11 shows an alternative cross-section, to an enlarged scale, through an upright
24a, 24b,
FIGURE 12 shows a further alternative cross-section, to an enlarged scale, through
an upright 24a, 24b,
FIGURES 13, 13a to 13d show further alternative cross-sections, to an enlarged scale, through an upright
24a, 24b, and
FIGURE 14 is a diagrammatic representation of part of the building assembly of Figures
1 and 2.
[0048] Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figures 1 and 2 a building assembly
10 comprising four building units 11 - 14. Each building unit is rectangular in plan
view having a short end wall 15 and a long side wall 16.
[0049] The units 11 and 12 are disposed in side-by-side relationship with two of their longer
sides adjacent. The building units 13, 14 are likewise disposed in side-by-side relationship
but with the unit 13 stacked on top of the unit 11 and the unit 14 stacked on top
of the unit 12.
[0050] If desired more than two units may be provided in each storey and in each storey
the units can be disposed in side-by-side relationship and/or end-to-end and/or end-to-side
relationship to provide any desired combination.
[0051] Alternatively, or in addition, the building assembly may comprise more than two storeys
by stacking three or more units, one on top of the other.
[0052] Each building module 11 - 14 in accordance with the invention comprises a structural
steel frame 20 as best shown in Figures 3 and 4, preferably constructed from steel
beams. Each frame 20 comprises two upstanding sub-frames 21
a, 21
b, which lie in a vertical plane, each comprising respective horizontal roof beams
22
a. 22
b and lower horizontal floor beams 23
a, 23
b, interconnected at their ends by uprights 24
a, 24
b. The two vertical sub-frames 21
a, 21
b are connected together by a plurality of floor joists 25, of which two, end, joists
extend between the floor beams 23
a, 23
b at positions adjacent to, but spaced apart from, the uprights 24
a, 24
b.
[0053] The roof and floor beams 22
a, 22
b, 23
a, 23
b are each of channel shape in cross-section and each includes a vertically disposed
web 26, the roof and floor beams 22
a, 22
b, 23
a, 23
b having laterally inwardly or, if desired, outwardly, directed horizontal lower flanges
27 and upper flanges 28. The flanges 27, 28 all have inwardly directed lips at their
free ends. If desired roof and floor beams may be of other configuration to that described
hereinbefore.
[0054] The uprights 24
a, 24
b are of a section hereinafter to be described.
[0055] To enable the beams 22
a, 22
b, 23
a, 23
b and uprights 24
a, 24
b to be connected rigidly together, the ends of beams 22
a, 22
b, 23
a, 23
b are disposed adjacent the uprights 24
a, 24
b and secured thereto by means of an angle bracket 29 fastened, such as by being bolted
or welded, to the web 26 and bolted to the side wall 31 of the uprights 24
a, 24
b, which may be reinforced by an apertured plate 32 to which nuts 33 are welded.
[0056] In the case of an upright disposed at a comer of a building unit the angle brackets
29 are welded or bolted to the web 26 whilst the case of uprights disposed adjacent
each other a bolted connection 34 is made to bolt adjacent building units together.
[0057] In order to trim the appearance of the comers of a building an additional, non-structural,
element 24
c is disposed at the corner of the building to complement the upright 24
a, or 24
b disposed at the relevant corner of the building. If desired a make-up piece 24
d may also be provided if desired. The parts 24
c and 24
d are shown in Figure 9.
[0058] The non-structural element 24
b is fixed to the roof and floor beam by an angle bracket at the top and bottom. This
is permitted as the wall panel only partially covers the roof and floor beams.
[0059] The make-up piece 24
d is fixed to the non-structural element 24
c by angle brackets disposed, again, above and below the wall panel.
[0060] Each upright 24
a, 24
b has in the present example, a hollow cross-section which is constant throughout its
length. The cross-section is best shown in Figure 10 and comprises a first side which
provides the side wall 31 of the uprights and defines one side of a rectangle having
an overall length L, a second side 35, defining a second side of the rectangle having
an overall breadth B. The first and second sides are connected together by a further
side 36 which, in the present example, is of curvilinear configuration comprising
a sector of a circle over the substantially the whole of its length except for curved
end portions 37 of similar internal and external radii as the portion 38 connecting
the first and second sides 31, 35. In the present example the length L of the side
31 is equal to the breadth B of the side 35 and the dimensions L and B are 115mm long
and the side 36 has a radius which is the same as said length i.e. 115mm. If desired
the dimensions L and B may lie in the range 50-200 mm, and preferably 65-150 mm and
more preferably 90-120 mm. Such an upright is referred to herein as a "Quadrant".
[0061] With an upright of these dimensions and with material 5 mm thick similar i.e. the
same or substantially the same, structural performance is achieved as is achieved
with a standard overall 100 x 100mm square hollow section upright made of material
5 mm thick. Such a section is referred to hereinafter by the term "S.H.S.".
[0062] That such properties are obtained can be seen from the following comparison.
PROPERTIES |
S.H.S. |
QUADRANT |
Area |
A = 18.70cm2 |
= 19.32cm2 |
Moment of inertia |
Ixx = 279cm4 |
= 322cm4 |
Radius of Gyration |
ry = 3.86cm |
= 4.08cm |
Section Modulus |
Zx - 55.9cm3 |
= 49.44cm3 |
[0063] By "structural properties" we mean at least the area A of the section and the section
modulus Z
x but "structural properties" may also include Moment of Inertia I
xx and Radius of Gyration r
y.
[0064] One of skill in the art, knowing the "structural properties" and the shape of the
section can calculate, in known manner, other parameters of the columns such as Bending
moment, Axial load, Shear strength, making reference as necessary to standard documents
such as British Standard 5950 for other information required to enable such calculations
to be performed.
[0065] Figure 11 shows an alternative configuration where the same reference numerals refer
to corresponding parts as described hereinbefore in connection with Figure 10. However
in this case the further side 36 has, at each end, rectilinear portions 39. The rectilinear
portions are connected to the first and second sides 31, 35 respectively by curved
end portions 37 of the same radii as described hereinbefore. Again the length and
breadth of the rectangle is equal and in the present example are 105 mm long. The
end rectilinear portions 39 have a length of half this dimension. The radius of the
curvilinear portion is 52.5mm.
[0066] Referring now to Figure 12, again the same reference numerals refer to the same parts
as described hereinbefore in connection with Figures 10 and 11. In this case the sides
31 and 35 are of the same length and have a dimension of 108 mm. The end rectilinear
portions 39 which extend at right angles to the first and second sides have an equal
length and are approximately one third of the length/breadth of the rectangle i.e.
40 mm. The intermediate portion 40 is rectilinear and is connected to the end rectilinear
portions by curved parts 41 of inner and outer radii of curvature of about twice the
thickness of the material. The part 40 extends at approximately 135° to the adjacent
rectilinear end portion 39.
[0067] Referring now Figure 13, again the same reference numerals refer to the same parts
as described hereinbefore in connection with Figures 10 to 12. In this case the first
and second sides 31 and 35 are again of the same length and have a dimension in a
preferred range of 65-100 mm. The first and second sides are connected together by
a further side 36, which, in the present example, is of curvilinear configuration
comprising a sector of a circle over substantially the whole width except for curved
end portions 37 of similar internal and external radii as the portion 38 connecting
the first and second sides 31, 35. In the present example the length L of the side
31 is equal to the breadth B of the side 35 and the dimensions L & B are 100 mm long
and the side 36 has a radius which is the same as said lengths L and B.
[0068] If desired, the further side 36 may have a greater radius than that shown in Figure
13 for example 72 mm so that whole of the side 36 lies externally of the rectangle.
[0069] If desired the side 36 may comprise two separate parts as shown at 36
a, 36
b which may lie wholly externally of the rectangle or wholly or partly internally of
the rectangle as shown in Figure 13
b, 13
c and 13
d respectively.
[0070] The provision of an upright in accordance with the present invention improves the
visual appearance of the building unit in particular the building assembly. The "softening"
of a structural component by providing a curvilinear or angled configuration provides
a smoother building line and thus appears easier on the eye and adds a more contemporary
feel to the building. Such a configuration may also reduce the feeling of modularity
of the assembly. However such improvement of the aesthetics should be achieved without
a reduction or at least without significant reduction in the structural properties
of the upright compared with a upright currently used for example an upright having
a 100mm square cross-section made of 5mm thick material when compared with a quadrant
shaped upright as shown in Figure 10 and as described above.
[0071] The floor joists 25 are of channel shape in cross-section and each comprises a vertical
web 55 with horizontally directed flanges 56
a, 56
b, the upper flange 56
a of the intermediate joists having a downwardly directed lip 56
c at its free edge and both flanges of the end joists having inturned lips 56
c.
[0072] If desired, the floor joist may be of other configuration to that described hereinbefore.
[0073] It will thus be seen that each sub-frame 21
a, 21
b affords a rectangular aperture defined by the beams and uprights 22
a, 23
a, 24
a and 22
b, 23
b, 24
b respectively which may be closed by end and side wall panels as hereinafter described.
[0074] Lifting eyes may be removably secured to the tops of the uprights 24
a, 24
b by bolts which engage nuts provided at the top of the uprights.
[0075] The units illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 include a floor structure 61 comprising
an upper sheet of wood particle board which rests at its lateral margins on the upper
flanges 28 of the lower beams 23
a, 23
b and is supported on the floor joists 25. If desired, the upper sheet may be of other
material than wood particle board such as cement particle board or ply.
[0076] A foil faced film or blanket 62 draped between joists and a coated steel (Aluzink)
undraws the floor joists 25 and is secured to the bottom flange of each joist by suitable
fasteners.
[0077] To enable the whole structure to be supported on a lorry affording a bed narrower
than the overall width of the building module, longitudinal wooden bars 47 are secured
in position beneath the joists 25 inwardly of the ends of the module.
[0078] Each unit has a "roof" structure, which extends between and is secured to the roof
beams 22
a, 22
b therebelow by attachment to the lower flanges 27 thereof. The roof structure of each
top storey unit 13, 14 has a roof panel and each bottom unit 11, 12 (and intermediate
unit, if present) a ceiling panel. The roof structure may be otherwise attached and
disposed if desired.
[0079] The roof panel and ceiling panels are constructed as desired, for example, as described
in UK 2.263.296B.
[0080] Secured to the frames 20 are end wall panel structures 70 and side wall panel structures
80 although side and/or end wall panel structures may be omitted from adjacent sub-frames
21
a, 21
b to provide an obstruction free interior for each storey as described. The adjacent
sub-frames 21
a, 21
b of adjacent units 11, 12, and 13, 14 respectively are directly bolted together by
bolts 34 as previously described. In addition the mating flanges 22
a, 23
a and 22
b, 23
b of stacked units 11, 13 and 12, 14 respectively are also bolted together, as described
in UK 2,262,296B, a desired plurality of bolts being provided longitudinally of the
beams.
[0081] If desired further units may be bolted together in either end-to-end or side-by-side,
or side-to-end relationship with appropriate end wall panel structures and/or side
wall panel structures being omitted as desired to enable units to be linked together
to provide a building construction of desired configuration.
[0082] The end wall panel structures 70 are secured to the inwardly facing surface 31 of
uprights 24
a, 24
b so that the panel structures 70 are received entirely within the metal frame 20.
Cut-outs are provided at the bottom for the panels to accommodate the floor beams
23
a.
[0083] The end wall panel structures 70 comprise an outer skin 71 of plastics coated steel
and an inner skin 72 of plasterboard or other suitable material secured to a framework
73 of timber members with foamed plastics insulation material or infilling 74 therebetween.
[0084] The outer skin comprises a plurality, in the present example, three, rectangular
metal sheets 75, each of which has opposed edges 76 disposed to extend laterally in
a horizontal direction, a horizontal edge of adjacent sheets being joined together
along the length of said edges. The uppermost sheet is of the smallest height, the
middle sheet the greatest height and the lowermost sheet intermediate height. This
configuration is adopted so that the joint between the lowermost and middle sheet
is at or below the bottom of any window or other opening with which the building unit
may be provided. Similarly, the joint between the uppermost sheet and the middle sheet
is at or above the level of the top of any such opening. This avoids the need to cross
the or each of the above mentioned joints with a window or other opening. Of course,
if desired, an opening may cross one or more of the joints, for example, in the case
of a door, although, it is preferred to cross as few joints as possible. Further details
of the panel structure are contained in UK 2, 262,296B.
[0085] The side wall panel structures 80 are of similar construction to the end wall panel
structures 70 and the vertical edges 81 of their rectangular sheets 75 are disposed
behind an inwardly facing surface 82 of intermediate upright elements 83. The intermediate
uprights elements 83 may be provided for aesthetic reasons, for example, to reflect
the appearance of the shorter end wall of the building assembly and/or they may contribute
to the overall structural strength of the frame and so comprise an upright of the
structural frame, depending upon the size of the building and the way in which the
intermediate upright elements 83 are attached to the building unit. In the present
example, they are attached to the roof beams 22
a, 22
b and to the floor beams 23
a, 23
b by brackets which are bolted respectively to a roof beam and a floor beam.
[0086] The intermediate upright elements 83 may have the appearance of a pair of upright
members 24
a, 24
b and thus comprise a flat portion 83
a and a semicircular portion 83
b. They may be fastened in position by means of ? Alternatively, if desired, the intermediate
upright elements 83 may be of rectangular configuration.
[0087] Further details thereof and of any other part of the structure not described in detail
herein may be obtained from UK 2,262,296B.
[0088] If desired the end and side wall panel structures may comprise rectangular metal
sheets which are disposed so that their longest edges are vertical and joined together.
In this case a suitable reshaped framework will be provided with vertical members
lying adjacent the vertical joints.
[0089] Although not shown, the end and side wall panels, where provided, may be equipped
with all necessary doors and windows, and the windows may be single or double glazed
as required.
[0090] All required internal fittings, including partition walls, carpeting or other floor
covering, and appropriate mains services such as gas, electricity, water supply and
sanitation may be provided so that the complete unit may be delivered to a prepared
site, ready for use, subject only to securing adjacent units together where necessary
and applying internal trim strips as necessary at the joints between adjacent units,
and if required external trims.
[0091] When two or more units are connected together in end-to-end configuration, the higher
ends may be adjacent with suitable guttering being provided at the lower ends.
[0092] If desired, a plurality of roof panels may be provided secured to and, if desired,
below the roof beams instead of a single roof panel.
[0093] If desired, the structural frame may be of other configurations than that described
hereinbefore. For example, it may comprise a rectangular floor subframe comprising
a pair of spaced parallel floor beams connected together by transversely extending
floor joists, a rectangular roof sub-frame comprising a pair of spaced parallel roof
beams interconnected by a plurality of transversely extending roof joists, at least
some of the transverse joists being connected to the roof beams intermediate the ends
of the roof beams, and a plurality of upstanding, preferably generally vertical, columns
extending between and interconnecting the floor and roof sub-frames. At least one
floor panel may be supported on the floor joists. At least one roof panel may be supported
on the roof joists. If desired the floor structure may comprise a site poured concrete
floor or other site produced floor.
[0094] Although an assembly of our building units has been described above, a single building
unit may be provided, or an assembly of any suitable combination of building units
may be provided. Where a single building unit is provided a single storey assembly
of building units, the or each unit may be provided with skirt members 123 and fascia
panels 124 as described hereinbefore.
[0095] In the present specification "comprise" means "includes or consists of" and "comprising"
means "including or consisting of".
[0096] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or
the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means
for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed
result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be
utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.
1. A unit of the kind specified wherein the upright has, in cross-section, a first side
defining one side of a rectangle having a length L and a second side defining an adjacent
second side of a rectangle having a breadth B, the first and second sides being connected
together, at one end, at right angles and there being at least one further side, as
herein defined, which extends between the opposite ends of the first and second sides.
2. A unit of the type described wherein said at least one further side lies at least
partly within said rectangle.
3. A unit according to Claim I or Claim 2 wherein said further side, in cross-section,
is of generally curvilinear configuration over at least a portion of its extent.
4. A unit according to Claim 3 wherein the curvilinear configuration is a sector of a
circle.
5. A unit according to Claim 3 or 4 wherein the further side is substantially wholly
of said curvilinear configuration except for curved end portions whereby it is connected
to the first and second sides.
6. A unit according to any one of Claims 3 to 5 wherein the length and breadth of the
rectangle are equal.
7. A unit according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the further side comprises a curvilinear
portion having, at each end, rectilinear portions.
8. A unit according to Claim 7 wherein the rectilinear portions are connected to the
first and second sides respectively by curved end portions.
9. A unit according to Claim 8 wherein the length and the breadth of the rectangle are
equal and the rectilinear portions have a length approximately one third to one half
the length/breadth of the rectangle.
10. A unit according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the further side comprises end rectangular
portions which extend at right angles to the first and second sides and an intermediate
rectilinear portion which is inclined to said end portions.
11. A unit according to Claim 10 wherein the length and breadth of the rectangle are equal.
12. A unit according to Claim 11 wherein the end portions are approximately from one third
to one half of the length/breadth of the rectangle.
13. A unit according to Claim 11 or 12 wherein the intermediate portion extends at approximately
135° relative to the adjacent end portion.
14. A unit according to any one of Claims 10 to 13 wherein the end rectilinear portions
are connected to the first and second sides represented by curved end portions.
15. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the section has similar
structural properties to that of a rectangular section of length L and breadth B and
is made of a similar material of the same or substantially the same material.
16. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the portable building
unit is rectangular in plan view comprising a wall structure having a shorter side
wall and a longer side wall and a roof structure.
17. A unit according to Claim 16 wherein the wall structure comprises a composite wall
panel structure having an inner skin, an outer skin and an infilling therebetween,
the outer skin comprising at least one sheet which provides an external surface of
the wall structure.
18. A unit according to Claim 17 wherein each panel structure comprises an internal framework
having an upright edge member extending along each vertical side of the panel structure
and adjacent upright edge members of adjacent wall panel structures being disposed
side-by-side.
19. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the building unit comprises
a structural metal frame, comprising said uprights, to which are secured the roof
structure and at least one wall panel structure.
20. A unit according to Claim 19 wherein the building unit is provided with a floor structure
which is secured to the metal frame.
21. A unit according to Claim 19 or 20 wherein the structural metal frame comprises a
pair of lateral upstanding sub-frames, each of said sub-frames including an upper
member and a lower member, the upper and lower members of each sub-frame being interconnected
by said uprights.
22. A unit according to Claim 21 wherein the lower members of the sub-frames are rigidly
interconnected in spaced apart parallel relationship by frame cross-members which
extend between the lower members.
23. A unit according to Claim 21 or 22 wherein a floor panel extends between and is supported
by the lower members of the sub-frames.
24. A unit according to any one of Claims 21 to 23 wherein the upper members of the sub-frames
are interconnected solely by one or more roof panels, each of which extends between
and is secured below the upper members of such sub-frames so that the upper members
are wholly external of the habitable volume of the unit.
25. A unit according to Claim 18 or any one of Claims 19 to 24 where dependant on Claim
18 wherein said upright edge members of the panel structure are fastened to said uprights.
26. A unit according to Claim 18 or any one of Claims 18 to 25 where dependant on Claim
18 wherein the uprights adjacent which upstanding edges of the wall panel structures
at the ends of the side wall are disposed comprise a further upright disposed adjacent
uprights of the structural frame at the ends of the end wall.
27. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the uprights comprise
an upright of said structural frame and said structural frame is disposed external
to the habitable volume of the unit.
28. An assembly of building units according to any one of the preceding claims wherein
the units are connected together in side-by-side or end-to-end or side-to-end relationship
or wherein a building unit is stacked on top of another building unit.