TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a modular building assembly and in particular but not limited to a modular building assembly based upon pie-shaped modules. BACKGROUND ART

At present there are modular building assemblies made from pre-fabricated elements but the versatility of these present building assemblies is not optimised. It is a principle object of the present invention to produce a modular building assembly with greater versatility than the prior art. OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect therefore, the present invention resides in a modular building assembly having a plurality of modules, the modules being so sized and dimensioned so that the building assembly can be assembled on-site by two men fastening the modules together. In another aspect, the present invention resides in a modular building assembly including a plurality of modules, the modules having co-operating locating means so that adjacent modules are predisposed to locate one to another in assembled position. Typically, the iocating means comprises preconfigured self-locating means so that adjacent modules can be automatically located in position before being fastened together.

The modules are preferably selected from the following:- (i) floor frame modules forming a floor assembly; (ii) wall frame modules forming a wall assembly; and/or (iii) roof frame modules forming a roof assembly. The floor assembly typically forms a star-shaped assembly of circumferential ly spaced radially extending fastened together back-to-back channel members.

The roof assembly typically forms a star-shaped assembly of circumferential ly spaced radially extending fastened together back-to-back channel members. The channel members typically comprise a web between inclined flanges.

The building assembly preferably includes at least two interchangeable

floor frame modules, two interchangeable wall frame modules and two interchangeable roof frame modules.

The building assembly preferably includes vertically acting module bridging connecting means providing vertical connection between adjacent modules, the connecting means typically employing a footing connector simultaneously connecting a footing to floor and wall modules, the footing connector being operatively disposed generally vertically below a vertical wall frame member extending from the floor to the roof so that the connecting means provides a generally vertical line of tension from roof to footing. Preferably connectors are provided as sets of connectors at spaced locations about the building assembly said sets being disposed in said vertical disposition thereby providing spaced vertical lines of tension between roof and footings to thereby inhibit cyclone damage.

Preferably, a manually releasable fastener is employed to releasably secure adjacent modules together so that the assembly is demountable.

The floor frame modules can be of any shape or form but are typically pre- shaped. In one embodiment, the floor frame modules are made from discrete frame elements while in another embodiment, the floor frame modules are made as a thin concrete slab with adjacent modules having tongue and groove locaters for automatic assembly.

Preferably adjacent wall or roof modules include abutting marginal edge portions so that the adjacent modules are automatically set at an obtuse angle relative to one another on assembly. Preferably the abutting marginal edge portions of adjacent modules include cooperating spacer means so that the marginal edge portions are spaced leaving a gap for passage of connectors between the modules upon assembly. Typically but not essentially the spacer means and the self locating means are the same.

The wall frame modules are preferably generally vertical upright frame modules including obliquely disposed marginal edge portions adapted to abut or be closely spaced from one another so that adjacent wall frame modules assume a predetermined angular relationship on assembly. The wall frame modules also typically include an obliquely disposed marginal upper edge portion adapted to

automatically support an inclined roof frame module along a major portion of the upper marginal edge portion of the wall frame module so that the wall frame module and roof frame module assume a predetermined angular relationship on assembly. The marginal edge portions of adjacent wall modules are typically opposed oppositely angled flanges of respective formed metal sheets and are typically vertical edges in the final building assembly. The edges preferably extend top to bottom in the wall modules and edges of adjacent modules are preferably interconnected using a strip bridging across the edges to secure the wall modules top to bottom.

The wall frame modules preferably comprise an open portal base frame of generally inverted U-shape configuration and having a pair of upright legs supporting a bridging member extending between upper end portions of the legs when upright, the portal base frame being provided as a basic structural element-* for the building assembly and bei nfigurable by addition or omission of door(s), sub-frame elements, windov.^ and/or cladding into a selected one of the following wall frame modules:-

(i) An open door wall frame module;

(ii) A closed window wall frame module; or (iii) A fully closed wall frame module.

Each upper marginal edge portion of the wall frame modules preferably includes a plurality of spaced projecting connectors so that adjacent roof frame modules can be secured to the wall frame modules at spaced locations along the upper marginal edge portions of the wall frame modules. Preferably, some of these connectors coincide with connectors forming the vertical line of tension.

The roof frame modules are typically triangular in shape with a detachable eaves section.

Where the present invention applies to a polygonal shaped building assembly such as an octagonal, hexagonal or in part an octagonal or hexagonal building assembly, the roof and floor frame modules are preferably pie-shaped.

Typically a central crown member is employed to interconnect inner edges of the pie-shaped modules.

The frame modules are typically formed from a plurality of frame elements, the frame elements being prefabricated with self-locating means so that the frame elements automatically locate in an assembled position before being fastened together. The frame modules are typically pie-shaped and all the same size so that the modules can be coupled together in a variety of orientations to provide building assemblies having different floor plans based on the general polygonal form.

Preferably, the building assembly includes inclined roof frame modules and each floor frame module and roof frame module in the assembled building have the same projected area in plan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and be put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings and wherein:-

Figure 1 is an exploded view illustrating typical frame modules according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention as applied to an octagonal building assembly;

Figures 2A and 2B are drawings illustrating details of the preferred embodiment of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating clad floor modules in the assembled building assembly;

Figure 4 is an exploded view illustrating a typical floor module; Figures 5A, 5B and 5C are side, elevation and plan views illustrating a typical base portal frame for a wall frame module suited to implementation of the present invention;

Figures 6-12 are various wall frame modules employing the portal frame of Figures 5A-5C and additional frame elements;

Figures 13A and 13B are part sections illustrating one typical example of how clad wall and floor modules can be interconnected;

Figure 14 is a part section illustrating a typical connection arrangement for edges of adjacent wall frame modules;

Figure 15 is cut-away schematic view illustrating interconnection of roof frame modules;

Figure 16 is a schematic section illustrating a typical example of interconnection of wall and roof frame modules; Figures 1 7 and 18 are respective isometric and side views illustrating a manually operable releasable fastener suitable for use with the present invention;

Figure 19 illustrates a basic floor plan of a building assembly according to the present invention;

Figures 20 and 21 are alternative floor plans for building assemblies according to the present invention;

Figure 22 is a drawing similar to Figure 1 illustrating a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 23 to 26 are drawings illustrating connection details suitable for the roof modules, wall modules and eaves of the embodiments of Figures 1 or 22; Figures 27 and 28 are drawings illustrating connection details suitable for a typical frame of a roof assembly according to Figures 1 or 22;

Figures 29 and 30 are drawings illustrating connection details suitable for a typical floor assembly suitable for the embodiments of Figures 1 or 22; and

Figures 31 to 34 are drawings illustrating an alternative wall to post connection suitable for the present invention.

METHOD OF PERFORMANCE Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 , there is illustrated a modular octagonal building assembly 10 with cladding omitted to illustrate a plurality of frame modules including floor frame modules 1 1 forming a floor assembly, wall frame modules 12 forming a wall assembly and roof frame modules 13 forming a roof assembly, the modules being so sized and dimensioned so that the building assembly can be assembled on-site by two men fastening the modules together.

In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 1 , the smallest modules are the floor frame modules 1 1 and because the roof frame modules overhang the wall frame modules 12, each pie-shaped roof frame module corresponding to a floor frame module below it is made up of two sub-modules so each sub-module can

be easily handled.

As can be seen in figure 1 the building assembly includes a plurality of footings 14 each of which include a projecting connector flange 13, each flange includes holes so that the flange 13 can be simultaneously secured to the floor frame modules and the wall frame modules. Each wall frame module includes a projecting connector flange 16 so that the projecting flange 16 can be secured to two adjacent roof frame modules 13 by passing through a gap between the roof frame modules and then being fastened.

It will be appreciated that by this arrangement of a plurality of the flanges 1 5 and 16 situated around the building assembly that there will be provided vertical lines of tension directly from roof to footings 14. In addition to the flanges 16 additional flanges 1 7 are provided half way along each wall module to provide additional fixing between roof frame sub-modules.

As can be seen in Figure 1 , a crown 19 having projecting flanges 20 co- operates with flanges 21 projecting from the respective roof frame modules 13 to complete the roof.

As can be seen in the illustrated embodiment, the frame modules are made from basic frames, comprising frame elements which are interconnected together to form each frame module. Figure 2B illustrates a typical arrangement of frame elements 22 and 23 where the frame elements 22 and 23 include self locating dimples having holes provide for a fastener and this arrangement is shown generally at 24, it being understood that these dimples and holes are located at strategically spaced locations along the frame modules and frame elements so that the frame modules as illustrated in Figure 1 can be automatically and accurately aligned in predetermined positions and assembled on site.

Alternatively the frame modules can be assembled in the factory and also clad in the factory.

The frame modules are designed to accommodate services including electrical and plumbing services. The wall frame modules include channel shaped legs and portals with predrilled connecting passages. The floor frame modules include an outside edge channel (27 in Figure 13A) so services can

travel around the outside of the building. The floor frame modules include radially spaced frame elements each having generally radially aligned holes so that wires or plumbing can be fed from the outside to the inside under the floor. One of the basic structures of the illustrated embodiment is the wall frame module 12 which as can be seen is a portal frame, further details of which will be illustrated below.

Figure 1 shows a typical layout of floor cladding and as can be seen this also involves standardised floor cladding components. This is shown in more detail in Figure 3. Figure 4 shows a typical arrangement for a floor frame module 1 1 made from frame elements including channel shaped side frame members 25 and 26 and transverse frame members 27-34, these having predrilled holes and dimples as in Figure 2B so they can be assembled together on site. This arrangement is an example and also applies to frame elements used in the roof frame modules and wall frame modules of Figures 6-12.

Frame members 25 and 26 have predrilled holes which align with holes of adjacent modules to take a manually releasable fastener (see Figures 1 7 and 18). The same manually releasable fasteners can be used to hold all modules together so that the whole assembly is demountable without using a tool.. Referring now to Figures 5A, 5B and 5C, a typical base wall frame module

12 is illustrated and as can be seen it comprises legs 35 and 36 and a bridging member 37 which in this case is welded or riveted to the respective legs 35 and 36. Each of the legs 35 and 36 include marginal edge portions 38 and 39 respectively which are obliquely disposed so that when two wall frame modules are set side by side they automatically assume an inclined relationship to one another. Also the wall frame modules include locating pins 40 to automatically locate the wall modules into propositioned holes in the floor frame modules.

Each leg 35 and 36 is prepunched so that the space between the legs can be selectively filled with a frame selected from a window, door or wall frame as discussed below in relation to Figures 6 to 12.

The wall frame module of Figure 5B is an open frame suited to carry a full size sliding door between the legs 35 and 36.

Figures 6-12 illustrate how the basic frame module 12 of Figures 5A to 5C can be reconfigured by the inclusion of frame elements so that the same basic portal frame can be used for various window, door (Figure 1 1 ) and fully closed (Figure 12) wall modules. Referring now to Figure 13A and Figure 13B, there is illustrated interconnection of a wall frame module 12 where the pin 40 is located in a hole 41 passing through floor cladding 42 and in turn through into a frame member 27 of a floor frame module, the arrangement having an intermediate folded plate 43 which is fastened to the floor member frame 27 at 44. For this purpose the sheet of cladding 45 is assembled onto the wall panel 12 so as to extend below the wall panel 12 so that it can be connected to the floor frame member 27 using the arrangement of Figure 13B. This involves the use of a plastics strip 46 in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 13B.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 13A and 13B, the cladding 45 is made from a plastics material so that it can be lifted for the application of the fasteners 44, a plurality of which are used to secure the strip 43 at spaced locations along the respective floor modules frame members 27, afterwards the strip 46 is fitted in place and, screwed, riveted or otherwise secured to the frame member 27. Referring now to Figure 14, there is illustrated two clad wall frame modules 12, their legs 35 and 36 being shown closely spaced so a connecting strip 48 and a cover strip 47 is used and arranged to conceal fasteners 49.

Figure 15 illustrates connection between respective roof frame sub-modules 13 showing their obliquely disposed marginal edges 50 and straight edges 51 . Figure 16 illustrates the relative position and fixings for roof modules 13 and wall modules 12.

Referring to Figures 1 7 and 18 there is illustrated a releasable fastener 52 having a slotted body 53, a pin 54 and a sliding wedge member 55 so that the fastener can be used to secure adjacent modules together. Figure 1 7 shows the fastener in a released position where it can be inserted through aligned holes in say, frame members 25 and 26 of adjacent floor modules, the wedge member can be rotated and pushed into a locked position as shown in Figure 18.

Figures 19 to 21 illustrate typical floor plans assembled using the teachings of the present invention. It will be appreciated that the basic pie-shape used for the floor and roof modules allow a variety of different floor plans by combining the basic shapes employed to make up building assemblies of different sizes and shapes according to the basic form.

Referring now to Figure 22, there is illustrated a further embodiment of the present invention. Figure 22 is a similar view as to that illustrated in Figure 1 but in this case shows a part building assembly 60 where the roof assembly 61 is formed from pie-shaped frame modules 62, each of which are of general isosceles triangle shape. Each of the modules 62 occupy the same projected area as each floor module 63 and include an additional eaves module 64 so that the eaves module 64 can be added as required. The removal eaves 64 facilitates the abutment of wall modules 65 of adjacent building assemblies to provide many and varied shapes. The basic construction of the wall module, roof modules and floor modules is the same as described in the previous embodiments and where appropriate, like numerals refer to like features. However, it will be noted that the floor cladding in the illustrated embodiment is generally pie-shaped in the case of Figure 22 while the central connection or crown previously illustrated in Figure 1 at numeral 19 has been omitted.

Wall frame modules as described in relation to Figures 5 through 12 can also be used in the embodiment of Figure 22.

Referring now to Figures 23 to 26, there is illustrated the connection of the eaves to the roof modules and wall modules and as can be seen, the eaves fit into wall modules and at the same time are fastened to the edge of the roof frame modules as illustrated at 66.

Referring now to Figures 27 and 28 there is illustrated in Figure 27 the crown of the roof assembly with most cross members 66 (see Figure 22) omitted to illustrate jointing between adjacent roof frame modules. As can be seen in Figure 28, each adjacent roof frame module includes side members formed as channels 67 secured back-to-back, each channel being made from abutting web sections 68 and inclined flanges 69. Dimples and

protrusions 70 formed on each channel are used to locate the channels 67 in the correct position for fastening together using in this case a nut and bolt fastener 71 . The locating arrangement of protrusions and dimples 70 and fasteners 71 are also applicable in similar fashion or as an alternative to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2B of the previous example. These can be used in combination or as alternative. Figure 27 illustrates the uppermost portion of the roof as far as the first cross member 66 and it will be appreciated that fasteners 71 and further locating means are used at spaced locations along the roof assembly.

Referring now to Figure 29 there is illustrated a similar arrangement where the connection of the floor modules is shown to a central post 72 carrying a base plate 73 where four angled clamps 74 are used to hold the floor modules in place. Frame members 75 and 76 are secured together by self-locating fasteners 77. Self-locating fasteners can be used in similar fashion to the self-locating arrangement illustrated in Figure 28. Referring now to Figures 31 and 32 there is illustrated a wall to post fixing arrangement illustrated generally at 78, the wall columns 35 and 36 at the bottom thereof are secured by through bolts 79 and 80 extending right through the floor frame modules so that the wall frame modules are directly connected to the plate 81 of posts 82. This arrangement is repeated at each corner of the assembly. This is also illustrated in section in Figure 33.

All other pertinent aspects of the embodiment illustrated in relation to Figures 1 to 21 apply to the embodiment of Figure 22 including a self-locating bolt used in the wall assemblies and the typical connections although these can be modified in each case according to the arrangements illustrated in the drawings.

It will be appreciated that whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention, many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.