Field of Invention: This invention relates to transportable buildings and to a system for providing buildings. In particular, the invention relates to robust, readily transportable buildings suitable for the provision of crisis housing in remote areas.

Background of the Invention: There is a worldwide need for low cost buildings, which can be installed on-site with minimal skilled labour and minimal machinery.

In addition, there often is an acute need for the provision of crisis housing in times of natural disaster, war, civil conflict or political instability.

For example, in remote regions or in other areas where there is little infrastructure, or in crisis areas where infrastructure is damaged or destroyed, the services that are essential to conventional building techniques (such as power utilities or ready- mixed concrete supplies) may not be available.

A lack of such services could, to some extent, be met by substantially pre- fabricating buildings off-site and then assembling the buildings on-site. There are, however, substantial transport costs associated with transporting pre-fabricated buildings and, often, such pre-fabricated buildings are not robust enough for transport into remote or crisis-stricken areas.

The assembly of conventional pre-fabricated buildings can also require utilities and relatively skilled labour.

The present invention accordingly seeks to provide robust, readily transportable buildings, and an associated building system, in which the costs of transport to site for assembly can be reduced.

The present invention also seeks to provide buildings, and a building system, in which there is a minimal requirement for utilities and skilled labour on-site and yet in which the buildings are firmly and soundly founded.

Summary of the Invention: This invention accordingly provides a transportable building module that includes at least two building components, in which during transport the said components are nested one within the other in a telescoping manner.

In a further aspect, this invention provides a building system for a transportable building comprising: providing a transportable building module that includes at least two building components which are locatable one within the other in a telescoping manner for transport; transporting the module to a desired location in a nested configuration; extending the module by moving one component relative to the other in a telescoping manner to an extended configuration; fixing the components in the said extended configuration; and founding at least one component to the ground.

Preferred Aspects of the Invention: It is preferred that the building components be relatively telescopically moveable for de-nesting in a vertical direction so that each of the components may provide different vertical levels of a building.

In this case, preferably the components are capable of nesting within the component that forms the uppermost vertical level of the building.

It is particularly preferred that the components are adapted to be fixed one to another in a nested and/or extended location.

Preferably the upper components are adapted with hard-points or the like to permit them to be elevated relative to the lower component by means of jacking. It is most preferred that the upper components are pre-fitted with a jacking mechanism to effect elevation.

It is further preferred that there be two building components in a building module.

It is further preferred that, when the building components are nested within each other, the external dimensions of the building module be substantially the same as the external dimensions of one of the standard sizes of a shipping container. It should be appreciated that there are two generally accepted standard sizes-the single and the double. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the external dimensions of the nested building module are substantially the same as a single shipping container. Although there are clear logistical advantages when the nested module is of the same dimensions as a shipping container, the skilled addressee may construct the components of the module to any practical size if required.

It is preferred that the external corners of the nested components are provided with standard shipping container"corner castings", as are known in the art and sometimes referred to as"container locks", to allow the module to be transported and locked into position in the same manner as a standard shipping container.

It is also advantageous for the modules to be robustly constructed so that, when nested, they can be stacked upon each other and locked together in the same manner as shipping containers.

For ease of transport, the module may be provided with additional eyes or like hard- points from which the module can be lifted and/or secured.

It is further preferred that the building modules be locatable on-site with at least one opening in an external wall of one module contiguous with at least one opening in an external wall of another module so as to allow for communication between the interiors of the modules.

It is further preferred that at least one component of the module be pre-fitted for utility services such as water supply, drainage, gas, electricity or telephones. In addition, at least one component may include internal partitioning.

It is further preferred that ducting for services such as air conditioning is pre-fitted and arranged within the components in a telescoping or extending manner.

Preferably the building system includes one or more screw piles adapted to be fitted with a container lock. The said adaptation is such that, on-site, the pile can be screwed into the ground and fitted with the lock which then can engage with a mating lock on the building module, the system thus anchoring the module to the ground.

Brief Description of the Drawings: Figure 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a building module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a detail of how two components of a module are adapted for sliding movement one within the other.

Figure 3 illustrates details of how two components may be retained one within the other in the nested position.

Figure 4 is a front view of a building module according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the upper component nests in the lower component.

Figure 5 is a front view of a building module according to the preferred embodiment of the invention in which the lower component nests in the upper component.

Figure 6 is a side view of a lifting jack which is adapted for use in the course of installing building modules according to the present invention.

Figure 7 is a side view of the jack of Figure 6 in use to lift the outer component of a module.

Figure 8 is a side view of the jack of Figure 6 when it has lifted the outer component of a module to its upper position.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the construction of foundations for a module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 11 illustrates apparatus for use in marking out stump holes for foundations.

Figure 12 illustrates a telescopic ducting diagram for an air-conditioning system servicing both components of a module.

Figure 13 illustrates a screw pile fitted with a pile cap adaptor to connect with a corner casting on the lower component of the building module.

Figure 14 shows a detail of a corner casting mounted to a lower corner of a lower component.

Figure 15 illustrates the detail of means for anchoring a module to the ground by the use of a screw pile.

Figure 16 illustrates a means for elevating an upper component of a building module.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, preferred embodiments of it are described with reference to the drawings.

Detailed Description with Respect to the Drawings: Figure 1 illustrates a building module 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention which includes a component 2 adapted to form a lower level of a building and a component 3 which is adapted to form the upper level of a building.

Components 2 and 3 are adapted to allow sliding movement of component 3 within component 2 from a lower position (not illustrated) to an upper position such as is illustrated in Figure 4. It is preferred that, when component 3 is fully retracted within component 2, the external dimensions of the module are substantially the same as the external dimensions of a standard shipping container.

As illustrated in Figure 2, it is preferred that the frame 4 of the lower component 2 be provided with a vertical guide member 6 adapted to bear against end faces of the frame 7 of the upper component 3 to allow for smooth sliding of component 3 within component 2. It is preferred that component 3 be assembled within component 2 with removable low friction strips placed between the bearing surfaces between vertical guide member 6 and the end faces of the frame 7 of the upper component 3.

Shown in Figure 3 is a means for locking the components in a nested configuration suitable for transport. The frame members of the upper and lower components are provided with aligned bores 5 through which are passed bolts or retaining pins.

Figures 6,7 and 8 illustrate a method of raising a component from the nested position to the upper position during installation on-site. In the embodiment of the

building module illustrated in Figures 6 to 8, the lower component 2 is adapted for nesting within the upper component 3 in a similar fashion to the module shown in Figure 5.

After the module is placed on foundations 11 (as described in more detail hereinafter with reference to figures 9,10,12 and 13) the lifting platforms 12 of a series of jacks 13 are placed in supporting positions under the lower edge faces of the frame of component 3. Retaining pins (as illustrated in Figure 3) which retain component 2 within component 3 in the nested position are then removed and the jacks 13 are extended to raise the component 3 to its desired position. Retaining bolts 14 are then placed through aligned bores in components 2 and 3 to retain the components 2 and 3 in their desired relative positions.

An alternative means for raising a component from the nested position is shown in Figure 16. A heavy threaded steel bar 30 is housed within the corner frame of the upper component 3 and is retained by means of a housing block 33 on a flat steel plate 34 welded to the corner casting of the lower component 2. A fixed heavy nut 31, through which the bar 30 passes, is welded to the lower end of the corner frame of the upper component. A ratchet device 32 is used to turn the bar 30 through the fixed nut 31 thus forcing the upper component 3 upwards. It is preferred that each corner of the upper component is provided with such means. In this case the building module can be extended either by four operators simultaneously working in a co-ordinated fashion or by one operator systematically turning each ratchet.

Figure 11 illustrates a template 16, which is made to the outer dimensions of the lower component and may be used for marking out on the ground the position of foundation holes for the module. Preferably the template is made from plastic tape so that it can be rolled up when not in use. The template carries markings indicating the correct positions for the legs of the foundations.

As illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, once the foundation holes 17 have been dug, the module is installed with foundation stumps 18 in the foundation holes 17. Before installation of the stumps 18 in foundation holes 17, it is preferred that the

stumps 18 are retained within the outer sleeve 21 of the building by metal pins 22 placed through aligned temporary fixing holes in stump 18 and outer building sleeve 21. Each stump 18 is later retained in its require relative position by a bolt 23 placed through aligned holes in the outer building sleeve 21 and the stump 18.

A system of telescopic ducting to provide air conditioning to both components of the module is illustrated in Figure 12 in which the ducting is shown in an extended position. An air conditioning unit 40 is located in the lower component 2 at the base of two ducts 41 and 42. Air flows to the lower component along duct 41 and to the upper component along duct 42. A ceiling fan unit 43 is located at the head of duct 42 to assist in the flow of air. The direction of airflow is indicated by the arrows.

Figures 13,14 and 15 illustrate the highly preferred embodiment of the invention in which the building module is anchored on-site by the use of screw piles. A screw pile 23 is driven into the ground by conventional means and an adjustable connection 26 at the head of the pile is then fitted with a corner casting 24 as used with a shipping container. The corner casting 24 is then locked by a portable container lock 25, as is known in the art, to a mating corner casting 27 located on the lower component of the building module.