Technical Field of the Present Invention

The present invention relates to a construction assembly in the form freestanding cold rooms comprised of modular construction units. Background of the Present Invention

Construction assemblies comprising a plurality of modular construction units mountable to create cold rooms, i.e. cold stores for storing diverse products in a refrigerated manner are known per se, such assemblies typically comprising modular wall panels and ceiling panels that can be fixedly attached to each other in a stationary manner.

A general approach in the field of the present invention is to ensure stability and durability of the assembled construction blocks typically by means of a structural frame conventionally having posts and beams to support the construction assembly having modular construction units. To effectuate assembling of the modular building system to erect a constructional assembly, various connection elements and lock mechanisms are used in the structural frame by which building elements such as wall, roof and floor elements are assembled typically using lower and upper beams and posts.

One of the prior art references in the technical field of the present invention can be referred to as US2011277417, disclosing components and method for modular building system used as houses, home flat, buildings, offices, gazebos, and pavilion. The modular building system includes structural frames for post and beam of the building system, lock mechanism for connecting and keeping rigidly said structural frames, corner support for connecting the corner of said structural frames, and structural insulated panel in the form of wall, roof and floor elements. The structural frame consists of at least a groove and at least pair of bevel surface. The lock mechanism includes a top shell, a bottom shell, a tension screw, at least one pair of reed, at least one pair of support pieces, and at least one pair of fill pieces.

In accordance with the present invention, on the other hand, a free-standing constructional block or assembly is obtained without using any additional structural elements such as frame elements for carrying and supporting wall elements and ceiling elements. The present invention is devised under the recognition that stability and structural durability should be imparted to modular constructional unit assemblies in the manner fast, easy and practical building of a constructional assembly such as a cold room can be effectuated by means of free-standing modular construction components. The present invention provides a modular unit constructional assembly having a plurality of at least a first axis and at least a second axis substantially planar construction units assembled with each other so as to create a closed free-standing construction as defined by the characterizing features as defined in Claim 1.

Objects of the Present Invention

Primary object of the present invention is to provide creating a closed free- standing construction assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a construction assembly with a plurality of modular units extending at least along a first axis and at least a second axis in the manner that said different axis modular units are assembled with each other in a sturdy manner.

Brief Description of the Figures of the Present Invention Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying a free-standing constructional block, whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained in brief hereinafter.

The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in said claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.

Fig. 1 demonstrates a cross-sectional schematic view of a wall panel and ceiling panel connection structure according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 demonstrates a general schematic view of a wall panel together with a multi-axis connector according to the present invention. Fig. 3 demonstrates another cross-sectional schematic view of a wall panel and ceiling panel connection structure according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 demonstrates another cross-sectional schematic view of a wall panel and ceiling panel connection structure where wall panels and ceiling panels are assembled without a slope in between according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 demonstrates another cross-sectional schematic view of a wall panel and ceiling panel connection structure where wall panels extend on ceiling panels in the form of a sectionally T-shaped structure according to the present invention.

Fig. 6 demonstrates a general isometric view of a wall or ceiling panel according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Present Invention

The following numerals are used to refer to various parts and definitions in the detailed description of the present invention:

11) Construction assembly

12) Wall panel

13) Ceiling panel

14) Multi-axis connector

15) First corner profile element

16) Second corner profile element

17) Insulation tape

18) Multi-layer penetration means

19) Connection means

20) Sealing means

21) Ceiling sheet

22) Ceiling sheet connection means 23) Foam layer

24) First corner edge

25) Second corner edge

26) Connection surface

27) Connector leg

28) Intermediate extension

29) Ceiling sheet undulation

30) Engagement formation

31) Principal face

32) Side face

The present invention proposes a construction assembly (11) conventionally comprising a plurality of modular construction units such as wall panels (12) and ceiling panels (13). Wall panels (12) and ceiling panels (13) can typically be rigid IPN/PUR (Polyisocyanurate/Polyurethane) foam or mineral wool insulation panels suitable for use in various facilities such as cold stores, refrigerated warehouses, ice cream and dairy plants, seafood facilities, poultry plants etc. In accordance with the present invention, wall panels (12) extending in vertical direction are assembled with ceiling panels (13) that are configured to cover the open top of a four-sided closed construction assembly (11) as formed by said wall panels (12) in the manner that a ceiling respective panel (13) is assembled with a respective wall panel (12) through a multi-axis connector (14) as will be delineated hereinafter.

The multi-axis connector (14) of the invention is an intermediate element extending along the upper side edge of a plurality of neighboring wall panels (12) to create a U-shaped envelope entirely covering the upper side of the wall panels (12) as well as covering part of the internal and external side wall portions thereof in the vertical axis. In other words, the multi-axis connector

(14) is configured to entirely cover longitudinally extending first and second corner edges (24, 25) as well as a connection surface (26) of the wall panel

(12) , said connection surface (26) directly facing a number of ceiling panels

(13) to be mounted thereon.

According to the invention, the multi-axis connector (14) allows fixedly attaching of the ceiling panels (13) to the wall panels (12) in the manner that while the intermediate extension (28) of the multi-axis connector (14) between said connector legs (27) connects the ceiling panels (13) to the wall panels (12), the connector legs (27) serve to the purpose of connecting two corner profile elements (the first and second corner profile elements (15, 16)) to the wall panels (12). More specifically, a number of multi-layer penetration means (18) in the form of elongated screw or anchor members connect the first corner profile element (15) externally covering the outer side of the corner structure formed by the ceiling panels (13) placed on the wall panels (12), to the wall panels (12).

Referring to Fig. 1, the first corner profile element (15) partially covers the top surface of the ceiling panels (12) as wells as lateral surfaces thereof extending in vertical axis in their entirety. The first corner profile element

(15) further externally fully covers the outer side connector leg (27) and extending over the same, reaches its lowermost position in contact with the outer side surface of the wall panels (12). In this configuration, at least one multi-layer penetration means (18) is inserted into the first corner profile element (15) extending on the top surface of the ceiling panels (12) and is directed to pass through said ceiling panel (13), reaching the intermediate extension (28) of the multi-axis connector (14). This structural inter-relation securely joins said first corner profile element (15) to the ceiling panel (13), the multi-axis connector (14) as well as the wall panel (12). Further, a certain number of additional multi-layer penetration means (18) are screwed into the ceiling panels (13) through which they are attached to the multi-axis connector (14) and the respective wall panel (12) below.

Likewise, a certain number of further multi-layer penetration means (18) are driven into lateral surfaces of said first corner profile element (15) from where they are introduced into a respective wall panel (12) passing through both of said connector legs (27) of the multi-axis connector (14) at both lateral sides of said wall panel (12). This arrangement ensures that the multi- axis connector (14) securely connects the first corner profile element (15) to the multi-axis connector (14) as well as the wall panel (12). As the first corner profile element (15) is also secured to the ceiling panel (13) as well as the intermediate extension (28) of the multi-axis connector (14), the respective ceiling panel (13) is fixedly attached to the corresponding wall panel (12). It is to be noted that the same operation of assembling cooperating modular units (wall panel (12) and ceiling panel (13) pairs) is repeated depending on the size of the construction assembly (11) and its respective dimensions on each axis.

Further, a second corner profile element (16) surrounds the joining adjacent surfaces at the internal side of the construction assembly (11). The multilayer penetration means (18) connecting each one of the lateral surface of said first corner profile element (15), the associated wall panel and the two connector legs (27) of the multi-axis connector (14) to the other components, it also communicates with said second corner profile element (16) so that the two connector legs (27) externally surrounded the two corner profile elements are interconnected as a single entity, which is also connected with the respective ceiling panels (13) also through said first corner profile element (15) and the multi-axis connector (14). Therefore, both the first corner profile element (15) and the multi-axis connector (14) support different connection lines on multiple axes, thereby affording reliable assembling of the wall panels (12) with the ceiling panels (13). In accordance with the present invention, each wall or ceiling panel (12, 13) is provided with an internal C-profile longitudinal extension being embedded so as to be connected with one of the lateral principal faces (31) of the subject panel. In other words, the wall or ceiling panels (12, 13) are structurally improved to better withstand environmental conditions in a substantially more stable and sturdy manner. Formation of thermal bridges are prevented between the outer and inner side faces of a given panel while at the same time structurally reinforcing the panel thanks to the corner profile elements (15, 16) and multi-axis connectors (14). According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, said C- profile extensions are interconnected (not shown) with said multi-axis connector (14) in a suitable way, i.e. for instance using additional connection means (19) or by way of establishing a mutually engaging connection interrelation. This arrangement advantageously even further improves the mechanical stability of the overall system.

In a nutshell, the present invention proposes a construction assembly (11) comprising a plurality of modular construction units in the form of wall panels (12) and ceiling panels (13), said wall panels (12) and ceiling panels being configured to extend at least in a first direction and in a second direction to create a closed construction assembly (11) in the manner that said ceiling panels (13) are configured to cover top of a four-sided closed construction assembly (11).

In one embodiment of the present invention, each wall and ceiling panel (12, 13) has two principal faces (13) and four side faces (32). In a further embodiment of the present invention, each wall panel (12) is assembled with a neighboring ceiling panel (13) through a multi-axis connector (14) in the form of an U-shaped envelope intermediate element extending along a side face (32) of said wall panel (12) entirely covering said side face (32) and partially covering two principal faces (32) thereof.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said multi-axis connector (14) receives a plurality of multi-layer penetration means (18) extending along at least a first and a second connection axis and assembling said wall panel (12) with said ceiling panel (13) passing through either said wall panel (12) or said ceiling panel (13).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said multi-axis connector (14) is configured to entirely cover first and second corner edges (24, 25) of a wall panel's (12) side face (31), said side face (31) directly facing a ceiling panel (13) forming a connection surface (26) between the wall panel (12) and the ceiling panel (13).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said multi-axis connector's (14) connection surface (26) connects the ceiling panel (13) to the wall panels (12).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said multi-axis connector's (14) two connector legs (27) at both sides of said connection surface (26) forming the U-shaped envelope connects a first and second corner profile elements (15, 16) to the wall panel (12).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said multi-layer penetration means (18) are in the form of elongated screw anchoring members.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said first and second corner profile elements (15, 16) respectively cover a first and second connection side of the structure formed by neighboring wall and ceiling panels (12, 13).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said multi-layer penetration means (18) extends through said ceiling panel (13) and said connection surface (26) of said multi-axis connector (14) to connect the ceiling panel (13) to the wall panel (12).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said multi-layer penetration means (18) extends through said first corner profile elements (15), said wall panel (12) and said second corner profile element (15, 16).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said first corner profile element (15) partially covers one of the principal faces (31) of the ceiling panel (12), additionally fully covers one of the side faces (32) thereof and further fully covering one of the connector legs (27), extends over said connector leg (27) to reach a position in contact with one of the principal faces (31) of the wall panel (12).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said second corner profile element (16) partially covers the other one of the principal faces (31) of the ceiling panel (12), additionally partially covering the other one of the connector legs (27), extends over said connector leg (27) to reach a position in contact with the other one of the principal face (31) of the wall panel (12).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, each of said wall or ceiling panel (12, 13) is provided with an internal C-profile longitudinal extension being embedded so as to be connected with one of the lateral principal faces (31) of the wall or ceiling panel (12, 13).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said C-profile longitudinal extensions are interconnected with said multi-axis connector (14). In a further embodiment of the present invention, said wall and ceiling panels (12, 13) are rigid polyisocyanurate or polyurethane foam insulation panels.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, said construction assembly (11) is a cold store.