COMPONENTS

The present invention relates to a modular housing unit structure with prefabricated components.

Nowadays systems for providing modular housing units are for the most part made up of prefabricated structural elements of various types, for example made of reinforced concrete, wood, or heavy structural steel, or of other types.

Conventional systems for providing modular housing units are characterized by the use of prefabricated structural elements that generally offer high technical performance levels, enabling the provision of large architectural spaces characterized by relatively large unobstructed gaps, of the order for example of 4-6 meters between vertical load-bearing elements.

Conventional systems for providing modular housing units further imply the use of a technology that is advanced overall, for example with connections between the wooden load-bearing elements which are secured by the application of contoured perforated steel plates adapted to the through insertion of suitable screws for fixing wooden elements.

The elements above listed can be assembled in situ only by using special tools such as dynamometer-equipped metal wrenches, electric tools for applying the screws and other electric tools, such as electric hand saws for attending to architectural details.

If the load-bearing elements of the structure are made of steel, the technology necessary for assembling the parts is usually even more complex. In fact welding devices can be required, or cutting devices for cutting steel and other, similar equipment.

If the load-bearing elements of the unit are made of prefabricated reinforced concrete, the technology usually used requires the application of a temporary supporting structure for the various elements, and such structure can be removed only when all the elements are fully and permanently connected and the reinforced concrete supporting structure is therefore adapted to fully perform its function.

The construction methods described above have drawbacks.

A first drawback of the solutions nowadays available for the systems for providing modular housing units is represented by the fact that the conventional technology is in any case geared to the construction of structures of a certain size, therefore with large rooms and sometimes on several floors for example.

Such technology is inadequate, in the sense that it is disproportionate in terms of size of the elements, technological level and, last but not least, from the point of view of the costs to be sustained, if it is desired to provide modular housing units that are smaller, with smaller volumes, and overall if what is wanted is to provide simpler structures that have performance requirements that are qualitatively and quantitatively lower.

Another drawback is represented by the fact that the individual elements that make up the structure have a weight that it is not normally possible to move with simple manual lifting, and mechanical lifting means are necessary in order to assemble these structures. This aspect has consequences both from the point of view of lengthening assembly times and of increasing total costs of provision.

A further drawback is represented by the complexity of the technology that using any one of the solutions shown above entails, and in fact the various components of the structure that it is desired to provide in any case entail the use of special tools powered by electricity or by another source, or require the presence of specialist labor, or require the purchase of an extensive array of tools necessary for the assembly.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a modular housing unit structure with prefabricated components which is capable of overcoming the above mentioned drawbacks of conventional construction systems using prefabricated modular units. Within this aim , an object of the invention is to provide a modular housing unit structure that entails a simpler assembly technology.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modular housing unit structure that can be provided with costs proportional to the encumbrances.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular housing unit structure that entails the use of structural elements that are light and can be handled and moved manually with advantageous implications for assembly methods and assembly times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modular housing unit structure the construction of which implies a minimal provision of tools and instruments necessary for assembly in order to make this step simpler and low cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular housing unit structure with a lower production cost with respect to conventional prefabricated units .

This aim and these and other objects which will become better evident hereinafter are achieved by a modular housing unit structure with prefabricated components, according to claim 1.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the modular housing unit structure according to the invention, which is illustrated for the purposes of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a modular housing unit structure according to the invention, with no covering;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first element for connection between load-bearing elements of a modular housing unit structure according to the invention;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second element for connection between load-bearing elements of a modular housing unit structure according to the invention;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of a third element for connection between load-bearing elements of a modular housing unit structure according to the invention;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fourth element for connection between load-bearing elements of a modular housing unit structure according to the invention;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of a first element for supporting a modular housing unit structure according to the invention;

- Figure 7 is a perspective view of a second element for supporting a modular housing unit structure according to the invention;

- Figure 8 is a perspective view of a load-bearing element of a modular housing unit structure according to the invention;

- Figure 9 is a perspective view of a reinforcement element of a modular housing unit structure according to the invention;

- Figure 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a modular housing unit structure according to the invention;

- Figure 1 1 is a perspective view of another portion of a modular housing unit structure according to the invention;

- Figure 12 is a perspective view of a further portion of a modular housing unit structure according to the invention;

- Figure 13 is a perspective view of a modular housing unit structure according to the invention with a covering.

With reference to the figures, a modular housing unit structure with prefabricated components according to the invention is generally designated with the reference numeral 10.

Such modular housing unit structure 10 comprises:

- load-bearing profiles, vertical and horizontal, some of which are designated, for the purposes of example, as 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 in Figure 1 , longitudinally extended, which are adapted to constitute a supporting frame 23 ;

- reinforcement profiles, some of which are designated, by way of example, with 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, for connection between load-bearing profiles;

- connection nodes 29, 30, 31 , 32 adapted to connect at least two load- bearing profiles;

- supporting elements 33 and 34 for horizontal supporting beams 35 and 36 for supporting a covering 37; such supporting elements comprise a portion 38 and 39 respectively for fixing to a load-bearing profile or to a connection node,

- horizontal supporting beams 35, shorter, and 36, longer, for supporting the covering 37, which are adapted to rest on at least two of the supporting elements 33 and 34,

- covering panels 40, 41 , 42, shown in Figure 13, which are adapted to rest on the supporting beams 35 and 36 in order to define the covering 37.

The load-bearing profiles 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , the reinforcement profiles 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, the connection nodes 29, 30, 31 , 32 and the beam supporting elements 33 and 34 are joined with means of connection of the hole and through-insert type.

In particular such hole and through-insert means of connection are constituted by respective threaded connections, for example with screws and bolts placed to pass through corresponding through holes, for example through holes 43 on a load-bearing profile 1 1, as in Figure 8, and through end holes 44 on a reinforcement profile 24, as in Figure 9, and corresponding through holes on the connection nodes, for example the through holes 45 on a first connection node 29 in Figure 2.

Screws and bolts are not shown for the sake of simplicity and are understood to be of conventional type.

In such embodiment, the load-bearing profiles 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 are of the hollow tube type, in particular with a square cross-section, as shown for example in Figure 8.

The reinforcement profiles 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 are of the hollow tube type, in particular with a circular cross-section, as shown for example in Figure 9.

The connection nodes 29, 30, 31 and 32 have at least three connecting portions for connecting with an end of a load-bearing profile 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , of said at least three connecting portions at least two extending in directions that are at right angles to each other.

Such connection nodes 29, 30, 31 and 32 are constituted by tubular portions that are contoured for coupling to an end of a load-bearing profile 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.

A first connection node 29, shown in Figure 2, comprises six connecting portions 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e, 29f respectively, each one constituted by a tubular portion with a cross-section that is such as to be able to receive internally the end of a load-bearing profile 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.

Such connecting portions 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e, 29f are directed in pairs according to three axes that are mutually at right angles, and the two connecting portions that lie on an axis are each directed in a direction opposite to the other.

A second connection node 30, shown in Figure 3, comprises five connecting portions 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e respectively, each one constituted by a tubular portion with a cross-section that is such as to be able to receive internally the end of a load-bearing profile 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.

Of such connecting portions 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e, four, 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, are directed in pairs according to two axes that are mutually at right angles, and the two connecting portions that lie on an axis are each directed in a direction opposite to the other, while the fifth connecting portion 30e is arranged on a third axis which is at right angles to the other two.

A third connection node 31 , shown in Figure 4, comprises three connecting portions 31a, 31b, 3 1 c respectively, each one constituted by a tubular portion with a cross-section that is such as to be able to receive internally the end of a load-bearing profile 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.

Of such connecting portions 3 1 a, 31b, 31c, two, 31 a, 31 b, are directed according to an axis and are each directed in an opposite direction to the other, while the third connecting portion 31c is arranged on a second axis which is at right angles to the first.

A fourth connection node 32, shown in Figure 5, comprises four connecting portions 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d respectively, each one constituted by a tubular portion with a cross-section that is such as to be able to receive internally the end of a load-bearing profile 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.

Of such connecting portions 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, two, 32a, 32b, are directed on a first axis and are each directed in an opposite direction to the other, while the third and the fourth connecting portion 32c and 32d are arranged on a second and on a third axis which are at right angles to each other and are both at right angles to the first axis.

A structure 10 according to the invention comprises at least four ertical load-bearing profiles, for example the profiles 1 1 , 12, 13, 14 shown in Figure 1 , which are mutually joined by four horizontal upper load-bearing profiles 15, 16, 17, 18 and, where an outer wall or internal dividing wall is to be provided, by lower horizontal load-bearing profiles 19, 20, 21 .

Per each vertical frame defined by two vertical load-bearing profiles, for example 1 1 and 12, an upper horizontal load-bearing profile, for example 15, and a lower horizontal load-bearing profile, for example 19, there is at least one reinforcement profile, for example the reinforcement profile 24, which is fixed between two opposite or incident load-bearing profiles. The reinforcement profiles 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 function as cross-braces and are adapted to ensure adequate stiffening and achieving the overall stability of the supporting structure.

Reinforcement profiles, for example 50, 51 , 52, 53 and 54 in Figur 1 , are employed as horizontal cross-braces between two mutually opposite upper corners of a housing unit or of a part thereof.

A first one, 33, of the supporting elements 33, 34 is shown in Figure 6; such first supporting element 33 comprises a fixing portion 38 constituted by a tubular portion; a bracket 56 is fixed at a side face 55 of such fixing portion 38 for the resting of a horizontal beam 35 and 36, such bracket 56 having a resting surface parallel to the side face 55; in this manner such first supporting element 33 lends itself to be mounted on a horizontal load- bearing profile, for example the load-bearing profile 57 in Figure 1 1.

A second one, 34, of the supporting elements 33 and 34 is shown in Figure 7; such second supporting element 34 comprises a fixing portion 39 constituted by the lower end of a tubular portion 60, at an opposite upper end 61 of which a bracket 62 is fixed for resting a horizontal beam 35 and 36, such bracket 62 having a]resting surface that is at right angles to the axis of extension of the tubular portion 60; in this manner such second supporting element 34 lends itself to be mounted on a connection node 29, 30, 31 and 32, as shown for the purposes of example in Figure 10.

The horizontal beams 35 and 36 for supporting a covering can be mavde of wood or of another material according to needs and requirements.

The covering panels 40, 41 , 42, adapted to rest on the supporting beams in order to define a covering 37, are constituted by contoured sheets, or by panels of any type.

The modular housing unit structure 10 according to the invention also comprises prefabricated modular frame articles 70, 71 and 72 in Figure 1 , which can be applied to the load-bearing profiles, for example 73 and 74, and are adapted to create window and door areas on the external perimeter of the structure, these having the function of aeration and illumination of the interiors.

The modular housing unit structure 10 according to the invention can be completed with elements for creating perimeter curtain walls and internal dividing walls, such as metallic nets, panels of any type, inside which further other filler elements can be adopted in order to ensure the requirements of thermal insulation, acoustics, optics, and the like, such as inert material of any nature, plant residues, and the like.

Any minor accessories for the assembly and connection of the various structural elements such as metallic screws and bolts, pins, wedges and the like should be understood as being of conventional type.

In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

In particular, with the invention a modular housing unit structure has been devised which entails a simpler assembly technology.

Still further, with the invention a modular housing unit structure has been devised which can be provided with costs proportional to encumbrances, therefore if the housing unit is relatively small, its cost is proportionally low.

Furthermore, with the present invention a modular housing unit structure has been devised which entails the use of structural elements that are light and can be handled and moved manually, with advantageous implications for assembly methods and assembly times, by virtue of the load- bearing profiles and the tubular reinforcement profiles, and also by virtue of the connection nodes and the beam supporting elements, all of which are made with tubular portions.

Furthermore, with the invention a modular housing unit structure has been devised the construction of which implies a minimal set of tools and instruments necessary for assembly, so as to make this step simpler and low cost, it being possible to connect the various elements and profiles with conventional threaded connections.

Last but not least, with the present invention a modular housing unit structure has been devised with a lower production cost with respect to conventional prefabricated units.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

In practice the components and the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.