|
(11) | EP 2 924 192 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | PREFABRICATED MODULAR STRUCTURE |
| (57) A module defining a parallelepiped space (2) for a prefabricated structure comprises
a plurality of panels (3), each of which is coupled sliding into two bar joints (G)
opposing with respect to the relative panel (3), each panel (3) being obtained by
bending a metal slab and comprising a plate (4), at least a first and a second tooth
(6, 7) arranged on opposing parts of the plate (4) and projecting with respect to
said plate (4) and a flap (5) projecting with respect to said plate (4) between the
first and the second tooth (6, 7), each bar joint (G) defining straight grooves (8),
each of which has a transversal section coupled with the relative tooth (6, 7) and
shaped to block the panel (3) at the bar joint (G) in a perpendicular direction (T)
to the direction of the grooves (8).
|
[0001] The present invention relates to a prefabricated modular structure, preferably for use in mortuaries, such as cemeteries or the like.
[0002] Preferably, prefabricated modular structures have low production costs with simple, fast assembly at the same time. Therefore, the number of components must not be high and assembly must be intuitive.
[0003] Furthermore, the need to provide the application of a side and/or upper and/or front cover which is made of more valuable material than the supporting structure arises when a prefabricated structure is used in a mortuary. When made of stone, the heavy weight of the cover must be considered in designing the modular structure.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to make a modular structure capable of fulfilling the above-described needs at least in part.
[0005] The object of the present invention/innovation is reached by a prefabricated structure according to claim 1.
[0006] The invention/innovation will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a non-limitative embodiment thereof, in which:
- figure 1 is a perspective, exploded view of a module for building a predetermined structure according to the present invention/innovation;
- figure 2 is an assembled perspective view of the module in figure 1;
- figure 3 is a perspective, exploded view of a prefabricated structure comprising a plurality of modules according to figure 1; and
- figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view of an additional detail for the module in figure 1.
[0007] In figure 1, reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole a module for delimiting a preferably sealed parallelepiped space 2, e.g. for containing urns with bones in a cemetery area. The main purpose of the sealing is to rainproof the space if the structure is mounted outdoors and exposed to rain.
[0008] The module 1 comprises a plurality of panels 3 and a plurality of bar joints G connected to one another to define the side, bottom and upper walls of the space 2. The bar joints G are preferably made by extrusion of a metal bar.
[0009] Each panel 3 comprises a preferably flat plate 4, a bottom flap 5 exiting transversely from the plate 4 and a first and a second group of reliefs 6, 7 exiting transversely from the plate 4 and opposite to the bottom flap 5.
[0010] The reliefs 6, 7 are oriented in mutually different manner, and preferably reliefs 6', 7' facing the same side of the bottom flap 5 with respect to the plate 4 and reliefs 6", 7" facing opposite sides of the bottom flap 5 with respect to the plate 4 are present in each group 6, 7. The reliefs 6', 6" and 7', 7" may be alternated as shown in figure 1 along a respective side of the plate 4.
[0012] Even more preferably, the panel 3 and/or the joint G comprises an outer polymeric protective layer of polymeric resin which either partially or completely covers the panel 3. Such a polymeric resin preferably comprises a polyamide, in particular polyamide 11. In particular, such polyamide 11 is commercialized under the name RILSAN®.
[0013] Each bar joint G defines a plurality of rectilinear grooves 8 along sides thereof and at least one head hole 9 preferably surrounded by the grooves 8.
[0014] Each groove 8 has a 'T'-shaped cross-section having a branch P proximal to the hole 9 and a distal branch D exiting transversely from the proximal branch P. The distal branch D defines a guide for the plate 4 and the proximal branch P couples to the teeth 6, 7 to constrain the joint G and the panel 3 in direction T perpendicular to the groove 8.
[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flap 5 has a maximum height which is either lower than or equal to that of the bar joint G when the module 1 is assembled, as shown in figure 2, in which the distance D1 is defined between a crest of the flap 5 and a crest of the bar joint G respectively tangent to planes parallel to the plate 4. The distance D1 is either null or positive, as shown in figure 2. In this manner, the flap 5 does not interfere with a lateral and upper cover C mounted to the joints G' and G" and is designed either to cover the module 1 with a cosmetic function and/or protect the module 1 from atmospheric agents. The cover C is fixed to the module 1 by mounting specific brackets to hooks fixed and tightened in the grooves 8 which are free and not coupled to the panels 3.
[0016] Furthermore, in this manner the flap 5 does not interfere during the assembly of the panel 3 as side or floor of the module 1. Indeed, as shown in figure 2, the four walls of the module 1 are identical to one another and defined by four panels 3.
[0017] Preferably, the bar joints G have a length substantially equal to or greater than that of the panels 3 so that the space 2 can be sealed as needed and rainproofed by using a cold sealing and/or adhesive paste, e.g. a silicon paste, applied in the groove 8.
[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the module 1 is replicated so as to make the modular structure in figure 3. The structure 10 comprises a bottom wall 11 and front plates 12, one for each space 2 and respective module 1.
[0019] To fix the front plates 12 more easily, the structure 10 comprises a plurality of section bars 13 each of which has a groove 14 mating with an edge 15 of the plate 4 opposite to the flap 5 as shown in figure 1.
[0020] The section bar 13 further comprises a wing 16, preferably two wings, opposite to the groove 14 and recessed with respect to the edge 15 when the profile 13 is applied to the respective panel 3. Furthermore, when the section bar 13 is applied to the respective panel 3, for example by applying an adhesive and/or sealing paste, the wings 16 define a reference for resting the front plate 12 which closes the space 2 so that each front plate 12 can be assembled/disassembled independently with respect to the front plates 12 of the adjacent modules 1. For example, the front plate 12 is fixed onto the section bars 13 by means of a cold adhesive and/or sealing paste, e.g. a silicon paste. Furthermore, when the space 2 is surrounded on each side by a respective wing 16, the latter define a frame on which the front plate 12 rests in an embedded position in the space 2 so that the front plate 12 is surrounded by the panels 3 and by bar joints G. In particular, the front plate 12 is rounded on the vertexes so as not to interfere with the sides F which join two angularly adjacent grooves 8 to each other.
[0021] The wings 16, as the flap 5, also have a maximum height lower than that of the joint G, i.e. the relative distance D2 is either positive (as shown in figure 2) or null.
[0022] The structure 10 further comprises a plurality of legs 17, preferably equal to each other, coupled to slide in a groove 8 of the respective bar joint G.
[0023] In order to allow the construction of a more robust structure, the bottom wall 11 may comprise one or more modules to connect to each other at least the panels 3 of at least two adjacent modules 1 or the panels 3 of a module 1 and at least one leg 17. Other combinations may be obtained according to the best tradeoff between the need to reduce the number of components and the maximum size of each component, e.g. to simplify the transportation conditions of the structure. According to the example illustrated in figure 3, the bottom wall 11 is a single piece and connects all the modules 1 and the legs 17 to each other.
[0024] In particular, each panel 3 is rigidly connected to the bottom wall 11 by means of the flap 5 which may be glued and/or sealed and/or coupled by means of a removable (e.g. threaded) or permanent (e.g. riveted) cold mechanical connection.
[0025] For example, figure 4 illustrates a front cover of the front plate 12 by means of the slab, preferably a stone slab L. A stud bolt P is screwed into the hole 9 on which a boss B and a rosette R are mounted. An edge S of the slab L rests peripherally against the boss B and the preferably threaded rosette R fastens the slab onto the boss B.
[0026] The advantages which can be obtained by means of the modular structure 1 described and illustrated herein are the following.
[0027] The modular structure 10 is particularly indicated for rapidly building structures for cemetery areas, in particular exposed to the weather and to rain.
[0028] The flap 5 allows to stiffen the plate 4 to avoid bending under load. Furthermore, when the flap 5 is rigidly connected to the bottom wall 11, the structure 10 is rigid as a whole, and in particular may effectively support the even heavy weight of peripheral covers fixed to the joints G, such as for example stone slabs.
[0029] The flap 5 is obtained by means of an 'L'-shaped fold of an end of the plate 4 allows to maintain the planarity of the plate itself and the rectilinear pattern of the teeth 6, 7 in simple manner so as to make the sliding assembly of the panel 3 reliable with the joints G.
[0030] At the same time, the section bars 13 stiffen the plate 4 for bending and do not compromise planarity.
[0031] The hole 9, the stud bolt P, the boss B and the rosette R define a front hook applied to the bar joint G to fix the slab L and cover the front plate 12.
1. A module defining a parallelepiped space (2) for a prefabricated structure comprising
a plurality of panels (3), each of which is coupled sliding into two bar joints (G)
opposing with respect to the relative panel (3), each panel (3) being obtained by
bending a metal slab and comprising a plate (4), at least a first and a second tooth
(6, 7) arranged on opposing parts of the plate (4) and projecting with respect to
said plate (4) and a flap (5) projecting with respect to said plate (4) between the
first and the second tooth (6, 7), each bar joint (G) defining straight grooves (8),
each of which has a transversal section coupled with the relative tooth (6, 7) and
shaped to block the panel (3) at the bar joint (G) in a perpendicular direction (T)
to the direction of the grooves (8).
2. A module according to claim 1, characterized by comprising at least two section bars (13), each of which defines at least one further
groove (14) to house the front edge (15) of the panel (3) opposing the flap (5).
3. A module according to claim 2, characterized by the section bar (13) comprising a first and a second wing (16) exiting from opposing
parts with respect to the further groove (14) and a front plate (12) to be rested
on the wings (16) to close the space (2), the wings (16) being recessed with respect
to the edge front edge (15).
4. A module according to claim 3, characterized by the bar joint (G) comprising a front hook (9, P, B, R) to attach a plate (L) and
cover the front plate (12).
5. A module according to any one of the previous claims, characterized by the panel (3) being covered with a protective layer of polymeric material.
6. A module according to any one of the previous claims, characterized by at least one of the panel (3) and the bar joint (G) being a single body.
7. A module according to any one of the previous claims, characterized by the bar joint (G) projecting with respect to the flap (5) or being aligned with the
flap (5).
8. A structure preferably for mortuaries, comprising a plurality of modules according
to any one of the previous claims and a bottom plate (11) fixed with bar joints (G)
and flaps (5) of at least two adjacent modules.
9. A structure according to claims 7 and 8, characterized by comprising a cover (C) fixed to the bar joints (G) to cover the panel (3).
10. A structure according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized by comprising at least one leg (17) and by the bottom plate (11) being rigidly connected
to the leg (17).